Delivering building simulation information via new communication media

Often, the goal of understanding how the building works and the impact of design decisions is hampered by limitations in the presentation of performance data. Contemporary results display is often constrained to what was considered good practice some decades ago rather than in ways that preserve the richness of the underlying data. This paper reviews a framework for building simulation support that addresses these presentation limitations as well as making a start on issues related to distributed team working. The framework uses tools and communication protocols that enable concurrent information sharing and provide a richer set of options for understanding complex performance relationships

Energy, carbon and cost performance of building stocks : upgrade analysis, energy labelling and national policy development

The area of policy formulation for the energy and carbon performance of buildings is coming under increasing focus. A major challenge is to account for the large variation within building stocks relative to factors such as location, climate, age, construction, previous upgrades, appliance usage, and type of heating/cooling/lighting system. Existing policy-related tools that rely on simple calculation methods have limited ability to represent the dynamic interconnectedness of technology options and the impact of possible future changes in climate and occupant behaviour. The use of detailed simulation tools to address these limitations in the context of policy development has hitherto been focussed on the modelling of a number of representative designs rather than dealing with the spread inherent in large building stocks. Further, these tools have been research-oriented and largely unsuitable for direct use by policy-makers, practitioners and, ultimately, building owners/occupiers. This paper summarises recent initiatives that have applied advanced modelling and simulation in the context of policy formulation for large building stocks. To exemplify the stages of the process, aspects of the ESRU Domestic Energy Model (EDEM) are described. EDEM is a policy support tool built on detailed simulation models aligned with the outcomes of national surveys and future projections for the housing stock. On the basis of pragmatic inputs, the tool is able to determine energy use, carbon emissions and upgrade/running cost for any national building stock or sub-set. The tool has been used at the behest of the Scottish Building Standards Agency and South Ayrshire Council to determine the impact of housing upgrades, including the deployment of new and renewable energy systems, and to rate the energy/carbon performance of individual dwellings as required by the European Commission's Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EC 2002)

Management of red smudge in durum wheat

Non-Peer Reviewe

The effect of leaf spots on yield and quality of wheat in southern Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedAlthough leaf spots have been reported to have a negative effect on yield and quality, the magnitude of the effect of leaf spots on grain yield and quality of wheat cultivars grown on dryland in southern Saskatchewan is not known. Experiments were conducted at Swift Current (Brown soil) and Indian Head (Black soil) for three years to determine effects of leaf spots on grain yield, kernel weight, test weight and protein concentration of wheat. Two fungicides, Folicur 3.6F and Bravo 500 were applied at different growth stages in order to diversify the severity of leaf spots. Three common wheat (T. aestivum L.) cultivars - AC Domain, Laura and AC Elsa and three durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var durum) cultivars with different levels of leaf spot susceptibility were used in this study. The control of leaf spots by fungicides often did not cause an increase of yield, kernel weight, test weight or grain protein concentration in the drier Prairies where yield potential is relatively low. Fungicide treatments significantly increased yield in only two of six location-years (Folicur applied at head emergence in 1997 (0.07-0.13 t ha-1) (P < 0.05) and Folicur applied at flag emergence and/or head emergence in 1998 (0.41-0.47 t ha-1) (P < 0.001) at Indian Head. Fungicide applications significantly increased kernel weight in only three of six location-years (applications at flag leaf emergence at Swift Current (0.8-1.1 mg) (P < 0.05) and Indian Head (1.8-2.0 mg) (P < 0.001) in 1998 and at Indian Head in 1999 (10-1.1 mg) (P < 0.01). An increase of grain protein concentration was only found in treatments of Bravo applications at Indian Head in 1998 (0.3-0.7%) (P < 0.001). It seems that the control of leaf spots tended to have higher effect on yield and quality at Indian Head than Swift Current, it could be attributed to better controls of leaf spots at early milk stage (P < 0.001) and/or higher yield potential at Indian Head (P < 0.001). Although the cultivars used in this study have different leaf spot susceptibility (P < 0.001), there were no consistent cultivar differences in the effectiveness of the fungicides on control of leaf spots and on the yield, kernel weight and other quality characteristics. Leaf spots are a common and potentially severe foliar disease of wheat. Many studies have reported that leaf spots have a negative effect on grain yield (Eyal and Ziv, 1974; King, et al., 1983; McKendry and Henke, 1994), test weight (Milus, 1994) and milling quality (Mckendry et al., 1995), especially under environments favorable for the development of leaf spots or under intensive management such as irrigation (Duczek and Jones-Flory, 1994) and high N fertilizer rates (Howard, et al., 1994). In the past decade there has been an increase in the incidence of leaf spotting diseases of wheat in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. These are attributed mainly to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (tan spot), Septoria nodorum and S. tritici (septoria leaf blotch complex) and all current spring wheat cultivars are susceptible to this disease complex - 333 - (Fernandez, et al., 1996; Fernandez, et al., 1998). Consequently there is increased pressure on producers to chemically control diseases that might affect yield and quality. The magnitude of the impact of leaf spots on grain yield and quality of wheat cultivars grown on dryland in this area, however, is not known. Research on these issues is therefore necessary to provide informed guidelines for use by producers. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of leaf spots on grain yield, kernel weight, test weight and protein concentration of spring common (T. aestivum L.) and durum (T. turgidum L. var durum) wheat in southern Saskatchewan

Analysis of QTL for high grain protein content in Canadian durum wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedDurum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) varieties with high grain protein concentration (GPC) produce pasta products with greater cooking firmness and increased tolerance to overcooking. However, the large environmental effect on expression of GPC and the negative correlation between GPC and grain yield slow breeding progress of durum wheat varieties with elevated GPC. Identification of molecular markers associated with high GPC would aid durum wheat breeders to select for this important trait earlier. The objectives of this study were to identify molecular markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for elevated GPC in durum wheat. A preliminary genetic map was constructed by screening polymorphic microsatellite markers on a set of 95 double haploid lines derived from the cross Strongfield (high GPC) X DT695 (low GPC). QTL analysis using single marker regression was performed on GPC data collected at Swift Current and Regina in 2002 and Swift Current, Regina and Saskatoon in 2003. To date, we have identified two QTL for GPC flanked by Xgwm448 and Xgwm558 on chromosome 2AS, and on chromosome 2BL at wmc332. No QTL for high GPC could be detected on chromosome 6BS, the location of a high GPC gene isolated previously from durum, wheat suggesting that Strongfield contains novel QTL for high GPC not previously reported in the literature. The molecular markers flanking the QTL identified in this study can be used by durum wheat breeders to enhance selection of high GPC in durum wheat

The effect of leaf spots on yield and quality of wheat in southern Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedAlthough leaf spots have been reported to have a negative effect on yield and quality, the magnitude of the effect of leaf spots on grain yield and quality of wheat cultivars grown on dryland in southern Saskatchewan is not known. Experiments were conducted at Swift Current (Brown soil) and Indian Head (Black soil) for three years to determine effects of leaf spots on grain yield, kernel weight, test weight and protein concentration of wheat. Two fungicides, Folicur 3.6F and Bravo 500 were applied at different growth stages in order to diversify the severity of leaf spots. Three common wheat (T. aestivum L.) cultivars - AC Domain, Laura and AC Elsa and three durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var durum) cultivars with different levels of leaf spot susceptibility were used in this study. The control of leaf spots by fungicides often did not cause an increase of yield, kernel weight, test weight or grain protein concentration in the drier Prairies where yield potential is relatively low. Fungicide treatments significantly increased yield in only two of six location-years (Folicur applied at head emergence in 1997 (0.07-0.13 t ha-1) (P < 0.05) and Folicur applied at flag emergence and/or head emergence in 1998 (0.41-0.47 t ha-1) (P < 0.001) at Indian Head. Fungicide applications significantly increased kernel weight in only three of six location-years (applications at flag leaf emergence at Swift Current (0.8-1.1 mg) (P < 0.05) and Indian Head (1.8-2.0 mg) (P < 0.001) in 1998 and at Indian Head in 1999 (10-1.1 mg) (P < 0.01). An increase of grain protein concentration was only found in treatments of Bravo applications at Indian Head in 1998 (0.3-0.7%) (P < 0.001). It seems that the control of leaf spots tended to have higher effect on yield and quality at Indian Head than Swift Current, it could be attributed to better controls of leaf spots at early milk stage (P < 0.001) and/or higher yield potential at Indian Head (P < 0.001). Although the cultivars used in this study have different leaf spot susceptibility (P < 0.001), there were no consistent cultivar differences in the effectiveness of the fungicides on control of leaf spots and on the yield, kernel weight and other quality characteristics. Leaf spots are a common and potentially severe foliar disease of wheat. Many studies have reported that leaf spots have a negative effect on grain yield (Eyal and Ziv, 1974; King, et al., 1983; McKendry and Henke, 1994), test weight (Milus, 1994) and milling quality (Mckendry et al., 1995), especially under environments favorable for the development of leaf spots or under intensive management such as irrigation (Duczek and Jones-Flory, 1994) and high N fertilizer rates (Howard, et al., 1994). In the past decade there has been an increase in the incidence of leaf spotting diseases of wheat in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. These are attributed mainly to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (tan spot), Septoria nodorum and S. tritici (septoria leaf blotch complex) and all current spring wheat cultivars are susceptible to this disease complex - 333 - (Fernandez, et al., 1996; Fernandez, et al., 1998). Consequently there is increased pressure on producers to chemically control diseases that might affect yield and quality. The magnitude of the impact of leaf spots on grain yield and quality of wheat cultivars grown on dryland in this area, however, is not known. Research on these issues is therefore necessary to provide informed guidelines for use by producers. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of leaf spots on grain yield, kernel weight, test weight and protein concentration of spring common (T. aestivum L.) and durum (T. turgidum L. var durum) wheat in southern Saskatchewan

Yield and protein response to N fertilization by different cultivars of spring and durum wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedA field study to determine whether there were differences in the response of CWAD and CWRS wheat to N fertilization was conducted in two soils of southwestern Saskatchewan for four years. Using regression techniques we were able to establish that both wheat classes had the same grain yield and protein concentration response to N availability, and that the differences in grain yield and protein concentration between classes observed in the study arose from differences in the response of the classes to available water. Differences in response to water availability among cultivars within each class were too small to be of practical significance. Recommendations for N fertilization of CWAD and CWRS wheats should be based on an N response common to both wheat classes, and on the ratio of the price of wheat to the cost of fertilizer N for each class

Effect of leaf spot severity on yield and quality of durum wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedLeaf spots in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are important in Saskatchewan even under dry conditions (Fernandez et al., 2002). Durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var. durum) cultivars presently grown in western Canada are susceptible to leaf spots. The most common leaf spotting disease in durum wheat is tan spot [Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs. (anamorph Drechslera triticirepentis (Died.) Shoemaker)] Leaf spots are believed to cause reductions in yield and quality. The most widely used approach to measure the effect of leaf diseases on yield and its components has been the use of fungicides (Duczek and Jones-Flory, 1994; Eyal, 1972; Hosford and Busch, 1974; Rees and Platz, 1983). Inconsistent results with fungicide use in wheat were also reported (Bailey et al., 1992; Stover et al., 1996; Wang et al., 2002). In some cases, fungicide effects were not directly related to the occurrence of disease (Fehrmann et al., 1978; Wang et al., 2002), which makes them an unreliable tool to assess the effect of leaf spots on plant growth. To accurately quantify the negative effects of leaf spots on yield and quality, an approach other than disease control by fungicide application is necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of genotypes near-isogenic for leaf spot reaction to quantify the effect of leaf spots on grain yield and quality of durum wheat

Cultivar difference in within-spike N remobilization in CWRS wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedThe objective of the present study was to compare four new CWRS wheat cultivars with two older cultivars, Neepawa and Marquis, in terms of spike dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and within-spike partitioning. Results showed that new cultivars had significantly higher kernel mass and N content per spike than old cultivars, which were mainly attributed to their higher accumulation rates, instead of accumulation duration. N remobilization from glumes occurred during the linear phase of grain filling and new cultivars started remobilizing N earlier and had a higher rates than old cultivars. N remobilization of rachis started later and the rate was smaller than glumes. New cultivars had higher total N remobilization and maximum remobilization rate from rachis than old ones. It seems that cultivars with large sink size had a high rate of accumulation and were able to remobilize more carbohydrates and N into the grains before maturity. Cultivars with small sink size had both relatively low accumulation rate and remobilization rate. Although visual observations showed that Marquis and Neepawa had 1-3 days longer maturity than new cultivars, grain accumulation of carbohydrates and N was minimal during these days because of the severe water stress and/or heat stress