Crop model parameterisation of three important pearl millet varieties for improved water use and yield estimation

Pearl millet is an important crop for food security in Asia and Africa’s arid and semi-arid regions. It is widely grown as a staple cereal grain for human consumption and livestock fodder. Mechanistic crop growth and water balance models are useful to forecast crop production and water use. However, very few studies have been devoted to the development of the model parameters needed for such simulations for pearl millet. The objectives of the study were to determine cropspecific model parameters for each of three pearl millet varieties (landrace, hybrid, and improved), as well as to calibrate and validate the Soil Water Balance (SWB) model for predicting pearl millet production and water use based on weather data. The SWB was chosen because it is widely used in southern Africa; however, the developed parameters should benefit other models as well. The presented crop-specific parameter values were derived from field observations and literature. Varieties with different phenology, maturity dates and tillering habits were grown under well-watered and well-fertilised conditions for calibration purposes. The calibrated model was used to predict biomass production, grain yield and crop water use. The hybrid’s water use efficiency was higher than that of the landrace and improved varietyhttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/plantsdm2022Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Yield, resource use efficiency and trace metal uptake of weeping lovegrass grown on municipal sludge‐amended soil

BACKGROUND : There are concerns that fertilization using sludge in semi‐arid areas, where water is limiting, will compound the effect of drought, resulting in the decline of yield from potential salt accumulation. This study investigated impacts of annual sludge application at 0, 4, 8 and 16 Mg ha−1 on weeping lovegrass hay yield, crude protein (CP) content, rainfall use efficiency (RUE), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and trace metal uptake over eight consecutive years. RESULTS : Both hay yield and RUE increased by 5–53% as the sludge rate increased. Hay yield was highest (13.3 Mg ha−1) during the wet season and RUE (27.1 kg mm−1) during the dry season. RUE was highest at sludge rates of 16 Mg ha−1 and NUE at 4 Mg ha−1. Similarly, municipal sludge application increased CP content as well as crop Cr and Zn uptake from the 16 Mg ha−1 treatment. CONCLUSION : Results from this study indicated that eight consecutive years of treated municipal sludge application increased weeping lovegrass hay yield, CP content and RUE. Similarly, trace metal uptake by crop did not differ between the zero control and the 16 Mg ha−1 treatment, except for Zn and Cr, which showed a slight increment. Nonetheless, all trace metals remained well below the maximum tolerable dietary concentrations for domestic animals. © 2017 Society of Chemical IndustryThe Water Research Commission, East Rand Water Care Company and the National Research Foundation of South Africa.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-00102019-01-30hj2018Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Long-range Angular Correlations On The Near And Away Side In P-pb Collisions At √snn=5.02 Tev

7191/Mar294

Measurement of jet suppression in central Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76 TeV

The transverse momentum(p(T)) spectrum and nuclear modification factor (R-AA) of reconstructed jets in 0-10% and 10-30% central Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV were measured. Jets were reconstructed using the anti-k(T) jet algorithm with a resolution parameter of R = 0.2 from charged and neutral particles, utilizing the ALICE tracking detectors and Electromagnetic Calorimeter (EMCal). The jet p(T) spectra are reported in the pseudorapidity interval of \eta(jet)\ 5 GeV/c to suppress jets constructed from the combinatorial background in Pb-Pb collisions. The leading charged particle requirement applied to jet spectra both in pp and Pb-Pb collisions had a negligible effect on the R-AA. The nuclear modification factor R-AA was found to be 0.28 +/- 0.04 in 0-10% and 0.35 +/- 0.04 in 10-30% collisions, independent of p(T), jet within the uncertainties of the measurement. The observed suppression is in fair agreement with expectations from two model calculations with different approaches to jet quenching. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Centrality Dependence Of The Pseudorapidity Density Distribution For Charged Particles In Pb-pb Collisions At √snn=2.76tev

7264/Mai61062

Elliptic flow of identified hadrons in Pb-Pb collisions at 1asNN = 2.76 TeV

The elliptic flow coefficient (v2) of identified particles in Pb-Pb collisions at 1asNN = 2.76 TeV was measured with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The results were obtained with the Scalar Product method, a two-particle corre- lation technique, using a pseudo-rapidity gap of | 06\u3b7| > 0.9 between the identified hadron under study and the reference particles. The v2 is reported for \u3c0\ub1, K\ub1, K0S, p+p, \u3c6, \u39b+\u39b, \u39e 12+\u39e+ and \u3a9 12+\u3a9+ in several collision centralities. In the low transverse momentum (pT) region, pT 3 GeV/c

Centrality dependence of inclusive J/\u3c8 production in p-Pb collisions at 1asNN = 5.02 TeV

We present a measurement of inclusive J/\u3c8 production in p-Pb collisions at 1asNN = 5.02TeV as a function of the centrality of the collision, as estimated from the energy deposited in the Zero Degree Calorimeters. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector down to zero transverse momentum, pT, in the backward ( 124.46 < ycms < 122.96) and forward (2.03 < ycms < 3.53) rapidity intervals in the dimuon decay channel and in the mid-rapidity region ( 121.37 < ycms < 0.43) in the dielectron decay channel. The backward and forward rapidity intervals correspond to the Pb-going and p-going direction, respectively. The pT-differential J/\u3c8 production cross section at backward and forward rapidity is measured for several centrality classes, together with the corresponding average pT and pT2 values. The nuclear modification factor is presented as a function of centrality for the three rapidity intervals, and as a function of pT for several centrality classes at backward and forward rapidity. At mid- and forward rapidity, the J/\u3c8 yield is suppressed up to 40% compared to that in pp interactions scaled by the number of binary collisions. The degree of suppression increases towards central p-Pb collisions at forward rapidity, and with decreasing pT of the J/\u3c8. At backward rapidity, the nuclear modification factor is compatible with unity within the total uncertainties, with an increasing trend from peripheral to central p-Pb collisions

Centrality dependence of high-pT D meson suppression in Pb-Pb collisions at 1asNN = 2.76 TeV

The nuclear modification factor, RAA, of the prompt charmed mesons D0, D+ and D 17+, and their antiparticles, was measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy 1asNN = 2.76 TeV in two transverse momentum intervals, 5 < pT < 8GeV/c and 8 < pT < 16GeV/c, and in six collision centrality classes. The RAA shows a maximum suppression of a factor of 5\u20136 in the 10% most central collisions. The suppression and its centrality dependence are compatible within uncertainties with those of charged pions. A comparison with the RAA of non-prompt J/\u3c8 from B meson decays, measured by the CMS Collaboration, hints at a larger suppression of D mesons in the most central collisions

Irrigation : a balancing act

Please read abstract in article.https://journals.co.za/journal/vp.chipsam2023Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Leaf scorching due to foliar application of synthetic acid mine drainage and the effectiveness of an antitranspirant in protecting leaves

DATA AVAILABILITY : The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.Untreated acid mine drainage (AMD) is being considered for crop irrigation on strategically limed soils, but foliar scorching is of potential concern. To test whether crops might be protected by antitranspirants, a field trial and two glasshouse pot trials were undertaken during the 2020/2021 growing seasons. Crops, namely Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays, Glycine max, Vigna unguiculata, Triticum aestivum, Avena sativa, Medicago sativa, and Pisum sativum, were exposed to acid water with pH levels of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, and 7.0. The first pot trial and field trial tested the effects of sulphuric acid solutions (to simulate AMD) on leaf scorching and the second pot trial focused on the effectiveness of an antitranspirant, Wiltpruf®, in protecting crops against leaf scorching. Leaf scorching occurred at pH levels of 2.0, 2.5, and 3, but only to a maximum of 6% leaf area damage in the worst-affected crop species. Crops are likely to recover from this injury. Contrary to expectations, the antitranspirant increased the propensity for foliar injury among crops, especially at pH 2.0 and 2.5. Metal cations commonly found in AMD should be included in follow-up leaf scorching studies to better simulate likely AMD irrigation waters. However, it appears that any crop growth problems possibly encountered when irrigating with AMD are likely to stem from root zone effects.The Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa.https://link.springer.com/journal/102302024-02-09hj2023Plant Production and Soil Scienc