Underground Crops Research Articles

Indexicality of apem cake at the Kirab Apem Sewu traditional ceremony in Sewu Village, Surakarta City, Central Java, Indonesia

Traditional food owned by a community group is one of their cultural identities. These foods can be introduced through various techniques and activities, one of which is through traditional ceremonies or carnivals (Jv: Kirab). This study aimed to describe the meaning of traditional food, particularly apem cake served in Kirab Apem Sewu, a tradition in Sewu Village, Jebres, Surakarta City, Indonesia. The analysis in this study focused on the philosophical meaning of the apem cake. The data in this study were collected through indepth interviews to obtain detailed information. The collected data was then analyzed using an interactive method, including data condensation, data presentation, and drawing conclusions or verification. The apem cake used in Kirab Apem Sewu was prepared from high-quality ingredients, such as rice flour, Saccharomyces yeast, and brown sugar. Apem cake makers must also meet specific requirements, like being female and pristine, which means she must be menopausal or not menstruating at the time of production. Apem cake in the Kirab Apem Sewu tradition symbolizes an apology, freeing the soul from misfortunes, gratitude, and unifying religious communities. Besides apem cake, there are also complementary materials, mostly underground crops (Jv: pala pendhem), such as cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, elephant foot yam, peanuts, and other typical fruit, like Saba/kepok banana.

Deep hybrid classification model for leaf disease classification of underground crops

Underground crop leave disease classification is the most significant area in the agriculture sector as they are the significant source of carbohydrates for human food. However, a disease-ridden plant could threaten the availability of food for millions of people. Researchers tried to use computer vision (CV) to develop an image classification algorithm that might warn farmers by clicking the images of plant’s leaves to find if the crop is diseased or not. This work develops anew DHCLDC model for underground crop leave disease classification that considers the plants like cassava, potato and groundnut. Here, preprocessing is done by employing median filter, followed by segmentation using Improved U-net (U-Net with nested convolutional block). Further, the features extracted comprise of color features, shape features and improved multi text on (MT) features. Finally, Hybrid classifier (HC) model is developed for DHCLDC, which comprised CNN and LSTM models. The outputs from HC(CNN + LSTM) are then given for improved score level fusion (SLF) from which final detected e are attained. Finally, simulations are done with 3 datasets to show the betterment of HC (CNN + LSTM) based DHCLDC model. The specificity of HC (CNN + LSTM) is high, at 95.41, compared to DBN, NN, RF, KNN, CNN, LSTM, DCNN, and SVM.

Analysis of load data for developing a self-propelled underground crop harvester during potato harvesting

Analysis of load data for developing a self-propelled underground crop harvester during potato harvesting

THEORETICAL RESEARCH ON HARVEST QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF ROOT CROPS AND POTATOES WITH A SEPARATING SYSTEM USING THE HEAT OF EXHAUST GASES

Improvement of technologies and development of appropriate technical means for cultivating all types of agricultural products is one of the energy-consuming segments of production. In addition, due to difference in biological characteristics of agricultural plants, energy costs for harvesting of surface and underground crops, the main representatives of which are mostly vegetable and some types of technical crops, prevail in favor of the latter. To improve the quality of sugar beet root harvesting in conditions of high moisture, it is proposed to use a separating system in the harvester design, which ensures energy efficiency of work with the possibility of simultaneous operations of digging, separating of root crops from soil and plant impurities and blowing of the separating surface with hot exhaust gases from the power plant of the harvesting machine. The aim of the study is to substantiate theoretically the technological and operational parameters of the separating system of harvesters using the heat of exhaust gases to improve the quality of root crop and potato harvesting in the conditions of high soil moisture. The object of the research is technological process carried out by the separating system of the harvester, which is represented by a cleaning star with installed deflectors for blowing on working surface of the separator with the exhaust gases of the power plant. Consistent patterns that allow to determine the design and technological parameters of the proposed separating system are presented. The results of the theoretical studies indicate the prospects for further experimental work to improve individual design elements of the proposed separating system.

Salinity responses and tolerance mechanisms in underground vegetable crops: an integrative review.

The present review gives an insight into the salinity stress tolerance responses and mechanisms of underground vegetable crops. Phytoprotectants, agronomic practices, biofertilizers, and modern biotechnological approaches are crucial for salinity stress management. Underground vegetables are the source of healthy carbohydrates, resistant starch, antioxidants, vitamins, mineral, and nutrients which benefit human health. Soil salinity is a serious threat to agriculture that severely affects the growth, development, and productivity of underground vegetable crops. Salt stress induces several morphological, anatomical, physiological, and biochemical changes in crop plants which include reduction in plant height, leaf area, and biomass. Also, salinity stress impedes the growth of the underground organs, which ultimately reduces crop yield. Moreover, salt stress is detrimental to photosynthesis, membrane integrity, nutrient balance, and leaf water content. Salt tolerance mechanisms involve a complex interplay of several genes, transcription factors, and proteins that are involved in the salinity tolerance mechanism in underground crops. Besides, a coordinated interaction between several phytoprotectants, phytohormones, antioxidants, and microbes is needed. So far, a comprehensive review of salinity tolerance responses and mechanisms in underground vegetables is not available. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of salt stress effects on underground vegetable crops at different levels of biological organization and discuss the underlying salt tolerance mechanisms. Also, the role of multi-omics in dissecting gene and protein regulatory networks involved in salt tolerance mechanisms is highlighted, which can potentially help in breeding salt-tolerant underground vegetable crops.

Crop resistance and household resilience – The case of cassava and sweetpotato during super-typhoon Ompong in the Philippines

Extreme weather events can have devastating effects on agricultural production. As rural households in developing countries largely depend on agriculture, climatic shocks have the potential to undermine food security. In this paper, we explore how crop resistance contribute to household resilience in extreme weather events. As case study, we used cassava and sweetpotato, two root and tuber crops (RTCs), in the context of super-typhoon Ompong that wreaked havoc in the northern parts of the Philippines in 2018. Primary data were collected from 423 households who were affected by the super-typhoon. Methodologically, we employed a multivariate probit model to jointly estimate various household disaster responses, and applied propensity score matching techniques to control for potential endogeneity. The findings suggest that RTCs can contribute to households' resilience capacity due to their resistance to climatic shocks being underground crops. In addition, RTCs appear to be important in influencing the households’ responses to typhoon. Our findings suggest that RTC cultivation reduces the need to resort to negative coping strategies, such as using household savings and requesting assistance from neighbors and friends, and that higher consumption of sweetpotato is linked to longer spells of reduced mobility. Furthermore, in the case of super-typhoon Ompong, affected households exploited the short production cycle of sweetpotato and cassava and planted them in the typhoon aftermath, a strategy that helped to gain faster access to food. Based on these findings some policy recommendations are proposed.

진동 오차 보상 기법을 적용한 동적 환경에서도 강인한 땅속작물 수확기용 무게 측정 알고리즘 설계

진동 오차 보상 기법을 적용한 동적 환경에서도 강인한 땅속작물 수확기용 무게 측정 알고리즘 설계

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the soil–crop–atmosphere system in e-waste dismantling areas in Taizhou: Concentrations, congener profiles, uptake, and translocation

Samples of soil, air, and locally grown crops from around an old e-waste dismantling area (Fengjiang) and a new e-waste dismantling area (Binhai) in Taizhou were analyzed to investigate the behavior of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) released during e-waste dismantling in the soil–crop–atmosphere system. The results indicated that PCB pollution is still widespread in the study area. The PCB concentrations were clearly higher in soil from FJ than in soil from BH, and the concentrations in the functional zones decreased strongly in the order industry park > residential area > farmland. Historical and current emissions during e-waste dismantling processes are probably the main sources of PCBs to soil because PCB production and use are banned. The long half-lives of PCBs have caused the target congener concentrations in soil not to decrease markedly over 10 years. The “halo effect” may have caused PCBs in soil in the heavily polluted FJ area to diffuse into the surrounding area. Soil–air exchange of PCBs in heavily contaminated FJ area may supply PCBs to air because the temperatures in Taizhou are often high. PCBs can accumulate in crops through various pathways. Less-chlorinated PCBs (mainly including Tri-PCBs) can enter crops by root uptake and translocated to the aerial tissues, and more-chlorinated PCBs (including Penta-PCBs and Hexa-PCBs) at high concentrations in soil can enter underground crop tissues through passive transport. More-chlorinated PCBs in underground tissues cannot be transferred to aboveground tissues of tall crops but may be transferred to aboveground tissues of short crops through the root-to-stem pathway and through soil dust being transferred to aboveground external surfaces.

Development of an Autofollow Row Control System for a Mechanized Harvesting Test Bench for Underground Crops

Abstract. To solve problems such as the low quality and efficiency of mechanized harvesting for underground crops in China, this study developed an autofollow row control system for a mechanized harvesting test bench for underground crops. A closed-loop fixed dual-threshold dead-zone PD (proportional differential) algorithm was developed to control the corrective displacement of the excavating mechanism. The backlash, dead-zone width, proportional gain constant, and differential gain constant of the control system were determined as ±70 mm, 180 mm, 700, and 15, respectively, according to previous statistical analysis of underground crop production data, design calculations, simulations, and debugging. The test bench simulation experiments indicated that the missed excavation rate and breakage rate were significantly lower than those of a conventional harvester without an autofollow row control system. At a plant spacing of 40 cm, off-centerline distance of 6 cm, and forward speed of 0.7 m s-1, the average values of the missed excavation rate and breakage rate for the autofollow row harvester were 2.29% and 3.58%, respectively. This research can provide a technical reference for mechanized autofollow row harvesting of underground crops.HighlightsAn autofollow row control system for a mechanized harvesting test bench for underground crops was developed to improve harvesting quality and efficiency.A series of test bench experiments was conducted to determine the optimal parameter combination.A closed-loop fixed dual-threshold dead-zone PD algorithm was developed to control the corrective displacement of the excavating mechanism.The appropriate parameters (dead-zone threshold, dead-zone width, proportional coefficient, and differential coefficient) were determined.Harvesting quality improved significantly by using the developed autofollow row control system. Keywords: Autofollow row, Excavating harvest, Fixed dual-threshold dead-zone PD algorithm, Underground crops.

Extraterrestrial Soils and Space Agriculture

Extraterrestrial Soils and Space Agriculture

Root and Tuber Crops: Re-Discovered and Re-Valued: A Cross-Site Perspective

Root and tuber crops (RTCs) are underground crops with only their leaves visibly acknowledging their existence to the outside world. We have always known RTCs as possessing some food value; can be grown easily in almost any type of agro-ecological setting within different types of cropping systems; can be relied upon to fill the need in times of food shortage; have some harvest-sharing and cultural significance. We also know, however, the perception of RTCs as "poor man's food," thus, not a preferred one. These are "facts of life" about RTCs in the past, so to speak. But in recent times, what functions do RTCs perform in providing livelihood and food security? Where there is an "overlap between RTC productionconsumption and poverty-food insecurity," do RTCs play a significant role in addressing the latter? The Food Security through Asian Roots and Tubers (FoodSTART) project with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is being implemented by the International Potato Center since 2011 to 2015 "to promote the role of root and tuber crops in building more diverse and sustainable agri-food systems toward ensuring food security among Asia-Pacific poor producers and consumers in the face of socio-economic and agro-environmental changes."

Hurricane watch: Battening down the effects of the storm on local crop production

This study utilizes a panel fixed effects model to explore the economic impact of hurricanes on local crop production in Jamaica using quarterly 1999–2008 microlevel data. We find, in general, that hurricanes have a negative impact on production but not for crops grown below ground. The exceptions for underground crops being negatively affected are yams and potatoes for which water saturated soil reduces output. From these results, implications are obtained regarding issues such as food security, export expansion, and earnings.

Sweet Potato Production for Bio-ethanol and Food Related Industry in Indonesia: Challenges for Sustainability

As an underground crop, tuberous root of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is the main economical yield expected from various level of cultivation. Aside rich in carbohydrate, sweet potato root contains vitamin and mineral. The degree of utilization reflects the level of subsistence to commercialization, where the desire or needs can be easily met was defined as prosperity. Supplying continuously the demand of sweet potato for subsistence and commercialization oriented to bio-ethanol and food related industries depend on the sustainable production system. To sustain sweet potato production system, the severe biotic and a-biotic stresses have to be alleviated.

From root zone modelling to regional forecasting of nitrate concentration in recharge flows – The case of the Walloon Region (Belgium)

In order to model the nitrate concentration of the recharge water in a spatially distributed way for the agricultural areas of the Walloon Region of Belgium, the EPIC model was first adapted to the specific soil description by modifying the reservoir sizes. It was also adapted to the regional crop production by modifying classcrop files in relation with observed data (both aerial and underground crop growth, yield) in wheat, sugar beet, and potato fields. As the vadose zone presents a depth between 1.5 and 104 m in this region, new reservoirs were added according to the geological descriptions available. Deep nitrate transfer was validated in a specific site where cropping history was known. Nitrate nitrogen after harvest in the root zone was validated for wheat within different crop rotations using the first results of a nitrate-monitoring program planned by the authorities to test the effectiveness of the mitigation measures in agriculture. This extended model was also linked to a GIS (geographical information system) using 1 km2-cells. All the required data were rasterised to allow HRU (hydrological response unit) identification within the cells. The cell’s daily water flows are weighted flows of each HRU depending on their relative area within the cell. Water balances at catchment scale allow us to validate the calculation. Taking into account the evolution of distributed land use and observed climatic data, we have built maps of fast indicators and long-term indicators. The first map represents nitrate concentration in the water leaving the root zone and the second one represents the time transfer for nitrate from 1.5 m depth to the groundwater table and nitrate concentration in recharge water. These maps constitute major tools for nitrogen management at a regional level.

Andean Root and Tuber Crops: Underground Rainbows

The Andean region is recognized today as one of the most important centers of crop origin and diversity in the world (National Research Council, 1989). Many of our most important food crops worldwide, most notably potatoes, were domesticated in this system (National Research Council, 1989). A unique feature of the Andean agricultural system is a taxonomically diverse group of Andean root and tuber crops (ARTC), coupled to the commonly found complement of grains and legumes, such as maize (Zea mays L.), chenopodium, beans, and lupines. The ARTC played a vital role in allowing sustained intensive cultivation and nourishment of a population that reached 10–12 million people at the height of the Incan Empire (1450–1535 A.D.) (King, 1987). About 17 species of root and tuber crops were domesticated in the Andes, making this the largest known geographical concentration of underground crops (Hernandez-Bermejo and Leon, 1992; Tapia, 1993). The ARTC evolved in extremely inhospitable areas for agriculture, and Pre-Columbian people made extremely effi cient use of what by todayʼs agricultural standards would be considered marginal land (King, 1987). The steep slopes of the Andes are prone to constant erosion, extreme fl uctuations in rainfall and temperature, and contain relatively poor soils. Crops grown in this environment were selected for their ability to cope with long periods of drought, freezing temperatures, and high UV irradiation. The Andean farmers took advantage of natural plant adaptations to extreme environments to domesticate a unique cohort of crops, and combined their cultivation with the use of complex irrigation canals, crop rotaand natural pesticides. The great adaptability of the ARTC favors their potential cultivation outside their area of origin. For example, oca is currently grown in Australia and New Zealand (National Research Council, 1989), while other species have recently been introduced to Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Europe, and Australia.

Agroecology of Tropical Underground Crops for Small-Scale Agriculture

Abstract The important tropical root and tuberous crops cassava (Manihot esculenta), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), yams (Dioscorea spp.), and the aroids (especially Xanthosoma and Colocasia spp.) represent an important source of relatively inexpensive carbohydrates to large sectors of the population in tropical areas. One or more tropical root crops are normally a staple in rural communities and are typically grown on small-scale subsistence farms. The current status of the agroecology research on these crops, including productivity under polyculture systems, resource (water, nutrients, light, space) utilization, tolerance to environmental stress, pest dynamics response to habitat manipulation, and alternative cultural practices, is reviewed in this paper as they relate to the performance of these crops in small-scale tropical agricultural systems. The development of technological recommendations to improve the productivity of tropical root crops in the tropics is dependent on an understanding of import...

Agroecology of Tropical Underground Crops for Small-Scale Agriculture

Agroecology of Tropical Underground Crops for Small-Scale Agriculture

Book Reviews: Underground Crops: Long-term Trends in Production of Roots and Tubers.

Book Reviews: Underground Crops: Long-term Trends in Production of Roots and Tubers.

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: European Trade Policies and the Developing World. Edited by L. B. M. Mennes and Jacob Kol ASEAN and the EC: Trade in Tropical Agriculture Products. Edited by Rolf J. Langhammer and Hans Christoph Rieger Varieties of Stabilisation Experience: Towards Sensible Macroeconomics in the Third World. By Lance Taylor Development Administration and Aid in the Middle East. By Gerd Nonneman Commodity Policies: Problems and Prospects. By Alasdair I. MacBean and D. T. Nguyen Privatisation in Less Developed Countries. Edited by Paul Cook and Colin Kirkpatrick Potatoes: Production, Marketing and Programs for Developing Countries. By Douglas Horton Underground Crops: Long‐term Trends in Production of Roots and Tubers. By Douglas Horton. Morrilton, AR Religion, Development and African Identity. Edited by Kirsten Holst Petersen Uppsala

Disappearance of Acephate Residues from Beans, Carrots, Celery, Lettuce, Peppers, Potatoes, Strawberries, and Tomatoes

Two leafy crops (celery and lettuce), four fruiting crops (beans, peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes), and two underground crops (carrots and potatoes) were treated with 0.55 and 1.10 kg (AI)/ha acephate. Except for potatoes which were sprayed eight times, treatments on all other crops were applied in a triple spray program. The triple spray program terminated between 3 and 14 days before harvest, with the exception that strawberry treatments terminated between 7 and 21 days before harvest. Residues of acephate and methamidophos were found at all times. The ratio of acephate to methamidophos varied from 1,100:1 to 2:1 depending on crop species and length of time after treatment. Residues generally declined slowly and half residue disappearance rates varied considerably. In 1981, five of the seven crop species had half residue disappearance rates of 11 days; in 1982, rates varied from rapid disappearances to no degradation over the 11-day period. In 1983, half disappearance varied between 1 and 10 days. While residues declined below 1.0 mg/kg by day 14 for five crop species, some residues on carrots and strawberries exceeded this level. Only potatoes and tomatoes had residues that declined below the negligible residue level normally defined as 0.1 mg/kg.