Role of genotypes and agrotechnical elements in cereal crop models

The interactions of ecological conditions, genotypes and agrotechnical elements determine the yield quantity, quality and stability in cereal (wheat, maize) production. The applied input- level can modify the adaptive capacity of crop models to ecological conditions. The effects of agrotechnical elements (crop rotation, fertilization, irrigation, crop protection, plant density) were studied in the long-term experiment on chernozem soil. Our scientific results proved that the high yields and good yield-stability were obtained in the input-intensive crop models, so these models had better adaptive capacity, high yield and resilience. Maize had lower ecological adaptive ability than winter wheat. The optimalization of agrotechnical elements reduces the harmful climatic effects so we can increase the yield and yield stability of cereals agro-ecosystems. The yields of wheat varied between 2 and 7 t ha−1 in extensive and 8 and 10 t ha-1 in intensive crop models and the yields of maize ranged between 2 and 11 t ha−1 and 10 and 15 t ha−1, respectively

The Effects of Guidance Method on Detection and Scanning at Intersections – A Pilot Study

Older drivers are frequently involved in collisions at intersections. One reason may be inadequate head and eye scanning when approaching the intersection. Prior driving simulator research on scanning at intersections has employed two main methods to guide subjects through the simulated world: auditory instructions similar to GPS navigation and following a lead vehicle. However, these two methods may have differing effects on head and eye scanning behaviors. We therefore conducted a pilot study to assess the effects of guidance method on participants’ head and eye movements as well as their detection of motorcycle hazards at intersections. Detection rates were significantly higher when following a lead vehicle than when following GPS instructions, but participants were closer to the intersection when they responded. Preliminary examination of the head and eye movement data suggests participants scanned less frequently when following the lead vehicle