Modelling soil water balance and root water uptake in cotton grown under different soil conservation practices in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Although soil conservation practices are being promoted as better environmental protection technologies than traditional farmers’ practice, limited information is available on how these practices affect soil water balance and root water uptake. The root water uptake (RWU) patterns of cotton grown under soil conservation practices and soil water balance in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fieldsunder a cotton-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system were analyzed using the Hydrus-2D model. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT), permanent narrow beds (PNB), permanent broad beds (PBB), ZT with residue (ZT+R), PNB with residue (PNB+R) and PBB with residue (PBB+R). Results in the third year of the cotton crop indicated that the surface (0–15cm layer) field saturated hydraulic conductivity in both PNB and PBB plots were similar and were significantly higher than in the ZT plots. Computed potential transpiration rates (Trp) under CT were lower than in other treatments, due to less radiation interception and lower Leaf Area Index (LAI). Both PNB and PBB plots had higher Trp and crop yields than CT plots, which were further improved by residue retention. Predicted soil water content (SWC) patterns during the simulation periods of third and fourth years showed strong correlation (R2=0.88, n=105, P<0.001, the root mean square error (RMSE)=0.025, and the average relative error (AVE)=7.5% for the third year and R2=0.81, n=105, P<0.001, RMSE=0.021, and AVE=9% for the fourth year) with the actual field measured SWCs. Cumulative RWU (mm) were in the order: ZT (143

Not Available

Not AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl

Synthetic and organic mulching and nitrogen effect on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a semi-arid environment

Field experiments were conducted in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 to evaluate the relative performance of synthetic (black polyethylene) and organic (paddy husk and straw) mulches on soil and plant water status vis-a-vis N uptake in wheat in a semi-arid environment of India. Scope of better utilization of soil moisture was documented through all the mulches, especially during initial crop growth stages, when the moisture content was 1-3% higher in mulches. Soil temperature was more moderate under organic mulches. Paddy husk recorded significantly higher plant biomass, while the effect of mulching in enhancing root growth was clearly documented. Organic mulches produced more roots (25 and 40% higher root weight and root length densities compared to no-mulch) in sub-surface (>0.15m) layers, probably due to greater retention of soil moisture in deeper layers and relatively narrow range of soil temperature changes under these systems. Incremental N dose significantly improved all the plant parameters in both mulch and no-mulch treatments. Grain yield was 13-21% higher under mulch and so with increasing N levels. Nitrogen uptake was higher in organic mulches and also with higher N doses, while polyethylene mulch showed mixed trend. Mulches were effective in reducing 3-11% crop water use and improved its efficiency by 25%. Grain yield and biomass were well-correlated with leaf area index (r=0.87 and 0.91, respectively) and water use was better correlated with root length than its weight. Results indicated substantial improvement in water and N use efficiency and crop growth in wheat under surface mulching, and the organic mulches, especially rice husk performed better than synthetic mulches.Organic and synthetic mulch Crop growth N uptake Water use Wheat

Automated System and method for publication classification detecting plant disease and providing disease treatment solution

The present invention generally relates to a plant disease detection system comprises an acquisition unit for collecting pictures of sick and sound plant leaves gathered under controlled conditions from a public dataset ; a training unit for training a convolutional neural network technique - based model to distinguish harvest species and sicknesses ; a camera for capturing real time image of a plant ; a central processing unit for estimating weight file (BMI) and muscle versus fat ratio status ( BF % ) utilizing bio impedance in order to detect disease of the plant , wherein the weight file ( BMI ) and muscle versus fat ratio status (BF %) is estimated upon comparing real time image of the plant with pictures of sick and sound plant leaves gathered under controlled conditions ; and an alert unit for transferring an alert signal of the detected disease and its stage on a user computing device