Phenological Calendars Research Articles

Некоторые биофенологические характеристики мохнатой бронзовки Epicometis hirta (Poda, 1761) в Шеки-Закатальской зоне

Coleoptera occupies a special place in the class of insects that annually cause great damage to agricultural plants. Of particular agricultural importance among these pests is the shaggy bronze, belonging to the family of Scarabaeidae. The damage caused by this pest to the stone fruit trees of the Sheki-Zagatala zone, the dynamics of development in horticulture, periods of activity in agrocenoses and phenological calendars have not been studied in detail. The article reflects the results of research on the ecology of the shaggy bronze. The study of bioecological and phenological characteristics of stone fruit pests in the Sheki-Zagatala zone was carried out on stationary fields in 2017–2021. The material was collected in agrocenoses and biocenoses during the year. The collection and identification of species, the conduct of experiments, and the mathematical processing of the results were carried out by methods generally accepted in entomology. As a result, it was established that the shaggy bronze develops in one generation in the Sheki-Zagatala zone. Pests go into diapause during the pupation period. Although the seasonal dynamics of the flight of the shaggy bronze is a curve with one peak, the daily dynamics of flight is a curve with two peaks. In spring, there is a one-peak curve, and in summer, a two-peak curve, depending on the weather temperature. The results of the research can be taken into account in the development of integrated pest control measures.

STICS crop model and Sentinel-2 images for monitoring rice growth and yield in the Camargue region

The assessment of rice yield at territory level is important for strategic economic decisions. Assessing spatial and temporal yield variability at regional scale is difficult because of the numerous factors involved, including agricultural practices, phenological calendars, and environmental contexts. New remote sensing data acquired at decametric resolution (Sentinel missions) can provide information on this spatial variability. The study objective was thus to evaluate the potential of Sentinel-2 images for monitoring rice cropping systems and yield from farm to region scales. The approach considered both observations and modeling. In-depth farmers surveys were carried out in the Camargue region, Southeastern France. The novelty was to use operational tools (BVNET and PHENOTB) to compute leaf area index, to daily interpolate this biophysical variable from 44 images acquired in 2016 and 2017 for each rice field, and to derive key phenological parameters from the analysis of the temporal profiles. The STICS crop model was spatially used, considering the biophysical variables derived from remote sensing. We tested four simulation strategies, differing in the integration intensity of remote sensing information into the model. Results have shown that (1) Sentinel-2 data allowed distinguishing early and late rice varieties. (2) The phenological stages mapped at the regional level allowed to better understand the agricultural practices of farmers. (3) The assimilation of remote sensing data to the STICS crop model significantly improved yield estimation and provided useful information on the spatial variability observed at regional scale. It was the first time that Sentinel-2 data are used with STICS crop model to assess rice yield at both farm and regional scale in the Camargue area. The proposed method is based on free open data and free access model, easily reproducible in other environmental contexts.

Crop-weather calendars for cultivation of sunflower crop in Punjab

Crop-weather calendars contain integrated information on crop (from sowing to the maturity) and weather on weekly basis. They are useful in formulating the agro-advisory for the crop. So crop weather-calendars for sunflower for three different locations viz (Ludhiana, Ballowal Saunkhri and Amritsar) were developed by collecting and analyzing the historical meteorological and crop data. The weekly normals of different meteorological parameters were computed from daily weather data of the 3 locations Ludhiana (1970 -2017), Ballowal Saunkhri (1984-2017) and Amritsar (1970 -2017) over the past more than 30 years. The phenological calendars for the sunflower were computed using the actual field experiments. In accordance with recommended growth period of sunflower crop in the state, the sowing -emergence, vegetative, flowering, grain filling and physiological maturity period of sunflower were considered to extend from 1-5, 6-12, 13-15, 16-19 and 20-21 standard meteorological weeks (SMW), respectively. The optimum climatic normals for sunflower were worked out from actual meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, rainy day, etc.) during the high yield crop years over the past 15 years (2003-2017). The calendars for sunflower were formulated by uniting the actual weekly climatic normals for the location with the crop phenology calendar along with optimum climatic normals needed for high yield of the crop. These crop-weather-calendars developed for different growth stages can be utilized in the agro-advisory services for prediction of high crop yield as well as for timely management of the crop from adverse weather conditions.

The phenological observations as the basis for the formation of the database of phenological spectrums of woody plants

Relevance. A study of the seasonal (phenological) phenomena and natural connections between them on the background of the relevant environmental conditions is of great scientific and practical interest. Knowledge of the dynamics of the seasonal development of woody plants helps in the selection of species and their assessment from an aesthetic and sanitary points of view, as well as in the development and implementation of measures to increase the sustainability of urban green spaces. Materials and methods. The purpose of these studies is to create a database of the dynamics of seasonal development of North American woody plants based on the results of many years of phenological monitoring (2003-2017). The 20 species and forms of North American woody introducers e of the VNIISPK arboretum genetic collection were the objects. Results. It was revealed that the growing season of woody North American plants corresponds to the climatic conditions of the forest-steppe zone of central Russia. The species with the earliest beginning of the growing season (the third decade of March) were distinguished. There were Mahonia pinnata, M. aquifolia, Betula lenta and B. lutea. On the basis of phenological calendars, phenological spectrums have been constructed. These consist of three lines (the development of leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits) with the corresponding color symbols. It has been revealed that phenospectrums vary depending on the conditions of the year. As a result, the database of 20 species and forms of North American woody plants was formed in the form of phenological spectrums against the background of registration of weather conditions in the forest-steppe zone of Russia. The database includes three options for the possible dynamics of the seasonal development of introduced North American plants. The created database allows observing, comparing, evaluating and forecasting changes in the seasonal rhythm of the studied species of introduced North American plants.

Evaluating the role of phenology in managing urban invasions: A case study of Broussonetia papyrifera

Multidisciplinary approaches are required for the management of invasive woody species in urban areas. In this context, phenological studies are a useful tool to understand tree development and devise suitable management strategies under urban forestry conditions. The significant role of phenology in attributing competitive advantages to invasive alien species has also been long recognized by community ecologists. Therefore, phenological calendars of invasive species may help in their detection, management and mitigation. In the present study, an attempt has been made to understand the invasive potential of an emerging invasive tree of urban landscapes, Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry; Moraceae), through its phenological assessment by using a standardized numerical scale, BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, CHemische Industrie). The tree is native to southeastern and eastern Asia and the Pacific Islands, and is rapidly spreading across various tropical and subtropical regions. The phenology of B. papyrifera was described in eight principal growth stages (PGSs) with two developmental cycles in a year, presented as primary (January-June) and secondary (June-November) flushes. The observations were further supported by the corresponding dates, photographs, meteorological data (air temperature, precipitation, and photoperiod), and climatic water balance of the study area. Results suggest that the occurrence of two developmental cycles, a prolonged reproductive period, strategy to attract frugivores with brightly colored pulpy fruits, and ability to survive under a wide temperature range help in the spread of B. papyrifera. The phenological scale provided in this study describes accurate and precise developmental stages of the tree that can be used to devise efficient management strategies for its control in urban areas. The information can also be exploited for assessing the climatic conditions required for its prevalence, predicting its future geographic range, and further research.

Phenological patterns in Mediterranean south Iberian serpentine flora

Phenological phases have been studied in Mediterranean serpentine shrubland vegetation in the south of the Iberian Peninsula to obtain a phenological characterization of the serpentine flora and to make a comparison between endemic serpentine and non‐serpentine plants in different years and altitudes. For this purpose, data were taken in the serpentine ecosystem of Sierra Bermeja (Andalusia, Spain) establishing two plots on two altitudinal bioclimatic belts and during two different years. A total of 28 persistent taxa were studied, including both serpentinophytes, their magnesicolous allies and non‐serpentinophytes, to detect possible differences between serpentine and non‐endemic taxa. Phenological calendars and phenological patterns (phenophasic indexes) were obtained. The species showed phenophasic patterns similar to those of other studied Mediterranean flora: a phenological pause coinciding with summer and most species behaving as summer semi‐deciduous with seasonal dimorphism. There were no statistically significant differences in phenology and in phenological indexes due to altitude or serpentine affinity. The best represented active phenophasic period of the species was 9–11 months of activity although showing the summer phenological pause. Species with low index of reproductive/vegetative activity of the species predominated, employing more time/resources for vegetative functions, and with synchronous phenophases, where flowering and growth coincide. The phenophasic period of serpentinophytes and magnesicolous taxa pointed to a certain delay in the period of flowering with respect to the group of non‐serpentinophytes, a result which could have important implications for reproduction.

Variation of Main Phenophases in Phenological Calendar in East China and Their Response to Climate Change

Based on the phenological data from China Phenological Observation Network, we compiled the phenological calendars of 3 phenological observation stations (Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hefei) in East China for 1987–1996 and 2003–2012 according to the sequences of mean phenophases. We calculated the correlated coefficient and the root mean square error (RMSE) between phenophases and the beginning of meteorological seasons to determine the beginning date of phenological season. By comparing new phenological calendars with the old ones, we discussed the variation of phenophases and their responses to temperature. The conclusions are as follows. (1) The beginning dates of spring and summer advanced, while those of autumn and winter delayed. Thus, summers got longer and winters got shorter. (2) The beginning time of the four phenological seasons was advancing during 1987–1996, while it was delaying during 2003–2012. (3) Most spring and summer phenophases occur earlier and most autumn and winter phenophases occur later in 2003–2012 than in 1987–1996. (4) The beginning time of phenological seasons was significantly correlated with temperature. The phenological sensitivities to temperature ranged from −6.49 to −6.55 days/°C in spring, −3.65 to −5.02 days/°C in summer, 8.13 to 10.27 days/°C in autumn, and 4.76 to 10.00 days/°C in winter.

Temporal and Spatial Distribution Patterns of Grain Crops in the West Liaohe River Basin

Abstract: Here, we quantitatively determine temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of main grain crops in the West Liaohe River basin, Inner Mongolia, China, from 2000 to 2010 based on MODIS remote sensing data and NDVI time series information for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010. Phenological calendars and a decisionmaking tree extraction model were also used to obtain spatial distribution information of spring maize, spring wheat and soybean. We found that in 2010, the sown area of the main grain crops in the West Liaohe River basin was 11 965.08km2, of which, the sown area for spring maize accounted for 92.28%and was concentrated in the lower reaches of the region. Spring wheat accounted for 3.14% and was mainly in the middle reaches. Soybean accounted for 4.58% and was predominantly in the upper reaches. From 2000 to 2005, the sown area of these grain crops in the West Liaohe River basin grew by 29.77%, mainly in the lower reaches: spring maize grew by 38.99%, spring wheat by 39.04% and soybea...

Remote Sensing of the Seasonal Naked Croplands Using Series of Ndvi Images and Phenological Feature

Naked cropland elimination is an important part of Beijing Olympic ecological project. In this paper, Multi-temporal satellite data were used to monitor and position the naked croplands. Three Landsat TM images and two “Beijing-1” Small-Satellite images were selected to calculate NDVI series according to crop phenological calendars and investigated information of agricultural cropping structures in Beijing suburb. Based on the phenological spectral characteristics of main agricultural land use types, a classification scheme was proposed to extract the naked croplands. Considering the structural characteristic hierarchical classification and various demands of feature selection in different periods, decision tree algorithm and a stepwise masking technology were employed to extract typical crops in each season, and hence the naked croplands were left. Accuracy assessment of the naked croplands in winter and spring were performed with comparison of the monitoring areas with statistical data. The results show...

Morpho-physiological and phenological attributes of reproductive biology of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) in Sri Lanka

A comprehensive knowledge on reproductive traits is a prerequisite in utilizing the existing tea germplasm effectively for crop improvement to develop superior planting material for grower acceptance and market profitability. The Sri Lankan tea germplasm was characterized based on reproductive traits viz. floral morphology, pollen biology, stigma receptivity and phenology of flowering and fruit set. The variability in floral morphology, especially the style morphological features, formed phenotypic clines rather than distinct groups. Studies on pollen biology and stigma receptivity revealed significant variability and asynchrony that could result unequal reproductive success among the genotypes. Four distinct patterns were predictable among the genotypes based on flower and fruit abundance and the time of flowering and fruit set. Three well marked flowering periods occurred in February to April, July and in November. Nonetheless, major flowering period coincided February and March in all the genotypes allowing free crossing between the different genotypes. Profuse mature fruit crop was obtained in February to May. Approximately 26% success was achieved in tea controlled hybridization programmes. Fruits carry two seeds on average and became mature in 8–9 months after pollination. Zygotic development in tea takes more than 1 month after pollination and early embryonic development continued for 4 months after pollination. The indexing of the morpho-physiological diversity and the phenological calendars of flowering and fruit set made available in the study are of significant importance in effective utilization of the tea germplasm for crop improvement.

Multi-year monitoring of rice crop phenology through time series analysis of MODIS images

Precise phenological calendars, for each cultivated species and variety, are necessary both to highlight anomalous agronomic situations and to feed crop models. This study, conducted in the Italian rice area, focuses on the evaluation of the contribution of remote sensing satellite data to providing phenological information on rice cropping systems. A time series of 5 years (2001–2005) of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 16-day composites was analysed with the TIMESAT program in order to automatically retrieve key phenological information such as the start of season (emergence), peak (heading) and end of season (maturity). The procedure involved two steps: (1) interpolation and smoothing of MODIS NDVI temporal profile and (2) the analysis of a temporal signal for the extraction of the phenological metrics. The remote sensing estimates were evaluated using information regarding cultivated variety, sowing dates, management and production directly acquired from rice farmers. A good correlation (R 2 = 0.92, n = 24) has been observed between estimates derived from satellites and estimates produced with the traditional Growing Degree Days (GDD) method based on thermal unit accumulation. Improved estimates of the maturity stage were obtained using a procedure that integrates satellite and GDD methods; however its application requires spatially distributed information on the cultivated varieties. Satellite derived maps of the retrieved phenological parameters showed an intra-seasonal pattern related to different cultivated varieties. Inter-seasonal analysis allowed the anomalous behaviour of the year 2003 to be highlighted, characterized by rapid growth at the beginning of the spring and an early senescence. The results confirm the potential of remotely sensed data for the monitoring of crop status and for the forcing of crop models in a spatially distributed way.

Phenology of Spring Weeds in Norman, Oklahoma

Weed calendars were kept for January-May 1954 and 1955, involving 75 species, more than half native. Details are given for the 25 most abundant. Percentage of those initiating flowering reached a peak in April; of those actually in bloom, about mid-May. A list and tables are given for the commonest species by month, growth habit, and habitat, with tables of temperatures and precipitation for the two seasons. A study of the phenology of the weeds of Norman was initiated in January of 1954. The purposes of the investigation were to prepare a phenological calendar for the spring weeds and to determine the effects of weather on the phenology of these weeds. In practice field trips were made at least twice a week except during extended periods of cold or rainy weather. On each trip observations were made on foliation, exsertion of flower buds, flowering, fruiting and seed dissemination. From these data, graphic tables and phenological calendars were prepared. RESULTS During the two years of investigation, some phenological data were obtained on 75 herbaceous weeds in Norman. Some species that were present in 1954 were not found in 1955. On the other hand, eight new species were discovered in 1955. In analyzing the detailed record, for 1954 and 1955, it was observed that adequate records were obtained only on the more common species. In view of these facts, data are presented only on the 25 most abundant species. On the species in Table 1, the dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, flowered discontinuously throughout the year, even in December and January. The first plant to initiate anthesis in the spring, therefore, was the shepherd's purse, Capsella Bursa-pastoris. Relatively few new species started to flower in February or March, most of the species initiated flowering in April and a few new ones began to flower in May (Table 1). The flowering period of spring weeds was found to be comparatively long. Many of the earliest flowering species had anthoperiods of twelve or more weeks. Because of this, the peak of flowering of weedy species occurs about May 15. This contrasts markedly with shrubs and trees which reach their flowering maxima about May 1 and April 15 respectively (Table 2). In comparing the phenological weed calendars in 1954 and 1955 it will be observed that no species were in bloom by mid-February, 1954, This content downloaded from 157.55.39.208 on Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:15:09 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms