The Current Adoption of Dry-Direct Seeding Rice (DDSR) in Thailand and Lessons Learned for Mekong River Delta of Vietnam

The paper documents the joint study trip, organized by CCAFS Southeast Asia for Vietnamese rice researchers, extension workers, as well as local decision makers, to visit Thailand in April 2018. The goal of the study trip was to observe and learn the experience of Thai farmers on the large-scale adoption process of dry-direct seeding rice (DDSR), a viable alternative to address regional scarcity of fresh water in irrigation caused by the drought and salinity intrusion in the Mekong River Delta

Cassava and sweetpotato cropping practices and farmer communication networks in Quan Binh Province, Vietnam.

Recognizing the potential of RTCs in increasing the resilience of smallholder farmers against climate change impacts in Vietnam, this research was done with the goal of determining potential gaps in farmer knowledge about climate smart practices for cassava and sweetpotato production. It also aimed to characterize farmer communication networks and knowledge-sharing within the village as well as at the commune-level

Sources of Peanut Digging Losses and Strategies to Reduce Losses During Inversion

Presented research was conducted at Clemson University’s Edisto Research and Education Center to quantify harvest related losses associated with the effects of peanut digger blade geometry, the effects of the peanut digger inversion assembly, and the effects of vine load on digging and strategies to address vine load. Three studies were performed to determine the potential losses incurred during the digging processes; various harvest metrics were analyzed to quantify the effects of the treatments. Five objectives guided the presented research. Objectives of the effects of peanut digger blade geometry study investigated the impact of blade geometry and blade aggression on recovered yield, blade depth, and stability. Objectives of the effects of the peanut digger inversion assembly included an investigation of the effects of the current digger inversion assembly on recovered yield and above ground losses. The effects of vine load on digging and strategies to address vine load studies research was guided by three objectives, which address vine load control methods, mechanical vine load control strategies, and methods to monitor vine load conditions within the digger. Digging operations utilized a two-row automated depth controlled KMC 2‑38 peanut digger while digging the peanut variety FloRun 331 in 2018 and 2019, and Emery in 2020; all plots were planted and dug with the use of autosteer. Tests were conducted in two-row plots of consistent lengths, respective to the study year. Recovered yield data was collected in 2019 and 2020 studies using a 2-row plot combine. Combine settings were consistent throughout the duration of harvest. Results from the testing demonstrated significantly improved recovered yields in the effects of peanut digger blade geometry study; in the most adverse digging conditions tested recovered yield increased by 532 kg ha-1 (475 lb ac-1). The inversion assembly was found to result in significantly increased above ground mechanical losses by as much 23 kg ha-1 (21 lb ac-1) when peanuts were dug at 4.0 kph (2.5 mph). The effects of vine load on digging and strategies to address vine load study indicated recovered yield improvements of 275 kg ha-1 (245 lb ac-1) when vine mass was reduced with the plant growth regulator Apogee. Further, reduced total above ground losses were found with standard rod spacing treatments and conveyor speeds of 85% to 100% of ground speeds independently. The investigation of methods to monitor vine load conditions determined that the application of vine speed sensing significantly detected speed differences across harvest conditions. The data suggested substantial effects on digging depth, depth stability, recovered yield, above ground losses, and inversion ratings as a function of the various treatments defined, and a quantification of these effects are reported

Performance analysis of two typical greenhouse lettuce production systems: Commercial hydroponic production and traditional soil cultivation

Introduction: Due to the shortage of land and water resource, optimization of systems for production in commercial greenhouses is essential for sustainable vegetable supply. The performance of lettuce productivity and the economic benefit in greenhouses using a soil-based system (SBS) and a hydroponic production system (HPS) were compared in this study. Methods: Experiments were conducted in two identical greenhouses over two growth cycles (G1 and G2). Three treatments of irrigation volumes (S1, S2, and S3) were evaluated for SBS while three treatments of nutrient solution concentration (H1, H2, and H3) were evaluated for HPS; the optimal levels from each system were then compared. Results and discussion: HPS was more sensitive to the effects of environmental temperature than SBS because of higher soil buffer capacity. Compared with SBS, higher yield (more than 134%) and higher water productivity (more than 50%) were observed in HPS. We detected significant increases in ascorbic acid by 28.31% and 16.67% and in soluble sugar by 57.84% and 32.23% during G1 and G2, respectively, compared with SBS. However, nitrate accumulated in HPS-grown lettuce. When the nutrient solution was replaced with fresh water 3 days before harvest, the excess nitrate content of harvested lettuce in HPS was removed. The initial investment and total operating cost in HPS were 21.76 times and 47.09% higher than those in SBS, respectively. Consideration of agronomic, quality, and economic indicators showed an overall optimal performance of the H2 treatment. These findings indicated that, in spite of its higher initial investment and requirement of advanced technology and management, HPS was more profitable than SBS for commercial lettuce production

Sustainable Approaches to Controlled Environment Agriculture

This Major Portfolio explores the role sustainable controlled environment agriculture has in responding to concerns about local food security in a cold weather climate such as Canada. The technologies and processes examined within this Major Portfolio are plant factories with artificial light (PFALs), aquaponics, passive solar energy, photovoltaic, cogeneration and geothermal greenhouses, as well as a household hydroponic vertical growing kit for home and office food production. While some of the technology that is assessed is well established, others represent fairly new developments within the arena of CEA and require further advancement to assess whether they have a place as an adaptation response to climate change or can effectively play a roll in a local food systems approach to community food security in Canada. An essential question that guided my Major Portfolio research is, in what way, if at all, can growing food in an enclosed environment be a response to a local food systems approach to community food security in a cold weather climate such as Canada? As part of my Major Portfolio I examine under what conditions sustainable CEA technologies can be a part of a strategy aimed toward greater food security. The following are questions that informed my Major Portfolio research: - What are the most recent developments in sustainable CEA? - What are the groups, organizations and businesses that are operating in this space? - What are potential ways in which sustainable CEA can serve as a mitigation and adaptation strategy to climate crisis? - How can the concerns levied towards 'sustainable' CEA from the perspective of climate crisis be resolved? - How can sustainable CEA technologies be adapted to reflect the priorities of food security and food sovereignty movements

The Influence of the Application Technique and Amount of Liquid Starter Fertilizer on Corn Yield

The aim of this research was to study the impact of application technique and rate of liquid starter fertilizer applied with a novel device on the production of corn. Starter fertilizer was applied in the root system range of freshly germinated plants in the 'belt' and 'point' forms at different quantities (35, 50, 70, and 100 L ha(-1)), which led to intensive plant growth in the initial stages of development. This adapted system was used for sowing and for application of the liquid starter fertilizer at the same time. The field trial was set up at two sites (two different land types), in the conditions of the natural water regime of the soil during the three vegetation seasons in the period 2016-2018. For this purpose, a prototype of the electronic device EUKU-01 was designed. The starter fertilizer was applied at 5 cm laterally from the row where the sowing was performed and 5 cm below the depth at which the corn seeds were sown. Data were statistically analyzed by two-factor analysis of variance, where the influence of mineral fertilizer treatment and the influence of liquid starter fertilizer treatment were observed as factors. The results showed that the optimal choice of the technique of liquid starter fertilizer application can result in fertilizer savings by 30% without reducing yield

Social science perspectives on managing agricultural technology

TechnologyAgricultural researchResource managementFarmer participationEvaluation

Social science perspectives on managing agricultural technology

Experiences of 15 social science research fellows who recount their roles in particular research projects at the International Agricultural Research Centers they were appointed. In addition to highlighting the contributions social scientists can make in the field of agricultural research, their papers offer a candid look at the kinds of work in which the Centers currently are engaged.Technology, Agricultural research, Resource management, Farmer participation, Evaluation, Farm Management, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,