Relating satellite imagery with grain protein content

Satellite images, captured during the growing seasons of barley, sorghum and wheat were analysed to establish a relationship between the spectral response and the harvested grain protein content. This study was conducted near Jimbour (approx. 151°10’E and 27°05’S) in southern Queensland. Grain protein contents of the geo-referenced samples, collected manually during the harvest, were determined using a laboratory-based near-infrared spectrophotometer. Grain protein contents in grain varied between 7.4–15.2% in barley, 6.2– 10.6% in sorghum and 13.1–15.6% in wheat. The Landsat images of 18 September 1999 (a week after barley flowering), 5 March 2000 (three weeks before sorghum harvest), and 15 August 2001 (two weeks before wheat flowering) were analysed. Additionally, an ASTER image of 24 September 2001 (three weeks after wheat flowering) was also examined. Digital numbers, extracted from raw image bands and derived indices, were correlated with grain protein contents. The grain protein content in barley was correlated strongly (r>0.80) with bands 2, 4 and 5 of the Landsat scene, first principal component, and the tasselled cap brightness and greenness indices. Similarly, wheat protein content was well correlated (r>0.75) with the near infrared band (band 4) of the Landsat scene, first principal component, and the tasselled cap brightness, greenness and wetness indices. The band 3 (near infrared band) of the ASTER image, captured well after flowering, was moderately correlated (r<0.5) with the protein content of the wheat. However, the grain protein content in sorghum was found poorly correlated (r<0.20) with Landsat image bands and indices. Results indicate that it may be possible to use certain bands and indices of the satellite images, captured around the time of flowering, to predict grain protein content of barley and wheat crops

Designing for Reflection on Sender Effort in Close Personal Communication

Research has identified that people in close relationships value effort that is invested into the creation of digital messages. This paper explores the potential for communication systems to encourage reflection by revealing evidence of effort to message recipients, allowing for it to be appreciated. Focusing on text-based communication, we report findings from an exploratory study of three interface prototypes that probe users’ reactions to the notion of revealing sender effort. We find that information about effort can foster empathy and appreciation by encouraging reflection over meaningful actions. However, designers of communication tools must address the issues of authenticity, controlled disclosure and cost in access if reflection on effort is to be valued. We consider how designers might negotiate these issues in future effort-sensitive communication technologies

Delineation of Management Zones using Multiple Crop Yield Data

Most agricultural fields naturally have within-field variations that may require site-specific attention for optimum crop performance. These variations are often contiguous, extensive and not easy to manage since every spot in a paddock is unique. Delineating a paddock into a few management zones is therefore a practical management approach. In this study, yield maps of various crops and seasons were used to delineate management zones. Map standardisation and the application of geographic information systems (GIS) were necessary to combine various yield maps for management zones delineation. A user-defined fuzzy set membership function was employed to standardise yield maps. The membership function used control points derived from the percentile calculation to rescale yield data continuously between 0 and 1. Map standardization and processing was performed within Idrisi-32 GIS and image processing software program. Standardised maps were combined within raster GIS to identify areas of low, medium and high yield performances. The classified areas were identified as management zones requiring different level of management attention. It was found that the continuous rescaling of yield data, using percentile based control points, was suitable to standardise yield maps. This process derived control points from within the yield data and minimized the influences of extreme yield values. Overlaying standardised yield maps to identify areas of low, medium and high yield potential was a straightforward process within GIS. The investigation revealed that most area performed moderately and the areas requiring highest management attention were around the periphery of the investigated paddock

Recurrence of yield and protein variation in the northern grains region

Grain yield and protein maps of sorghum and wheat were collected over consecutive seasons at Jimbour (southern QLD) and at Gurley (northern NSW) to identify spatial and temporal changes in nitrogen (N) removal and N supply. The Jimbour site was cropped with sorghum for 3 years (1999-2001), and the Gurley site with wheat (1999) then fallowed into sorghum (2001). Grain yield variation was moderate to high; coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from 12 to 30%. Protein variation was low for each site and season with CVs below 10%. At Jimbour, high applications of N fertiliser minimised temporal variation in grain protein. At Gurley, matching of N fertiliser with yield potential (based on soil depth) also resulted in a low temporal variation in protein. The low protein variation, both within seasons and between seasons, then contributed little to the temporal variations in N removal. Both sites had areas of stable variation but low supplies of N; these were related to areas where moisture had pooled or where soil depth, and hence available soil moisture, limited yields. Unstable variation was associated with isolated trees, contour, or edge effects. Under these conditions, protein data may need to only be collected every 2-3 years

Relating Satellite Imagery with Grain Protein Content

Satellite images, captured during the growing seasons of barley, sorghum and wheat were analysed to establish a relationship between the spectral response and the harvested grain protein content. This study was conducted near Jimbour (approx. 151 degrees 10'E and 27 degrees 05'S) in southern Queensland. Grain protein contents of the geo-referenced samples, collected manually during the harvest, were determined using a laboratory-based near-infrared spectrophotometer. Grain protein contents in grain varied between 7.4 - 15.2% in barley, 6.2 - 10.6% in sorghum and 13.1 - 15.6% in wheat. The Landsat images of 18 September 1999 (a week after barley flowering), 5 March 2000 (three weeks before sorghum harvest), and 15 August 2001 (two weeks before wheat flowering) were analysed. Additionally, an ASTER image of 24 September 2001 (three weeks after wheat flowering) was also examined. Digital numbers, extracted from raw image bands and derived indices, were correlated with grain protein contents. The grain protein content in barley was correlated strongly (r>0.80) with bands 2, 4 and 5 of the Landsat scene, first principal component, and the tasselled cap brightness and greenness indices. Similarly, wheat protein content was well correlated (r>0.75) with the near infrared band (band 4) of the Landsat scene, first principal component, and the tasselled cap brightness, greenness and wetness indices. The band 3 (near infrared band) of the ASTER image, captured well after flowering, was moderately correlated (

Gas and Dust in the Extremely Red Object ERO J164502+4626.4

We report the first detection of the lowest CO transition in a sub-millimetre bright galaxy and extremely red object (ERO) at z = 1.44 using the Very Large Array. The total J = 1 - 0 line luminosity of ERO J164502+4626.4 is (7+-1) x 10^{10} K km s^{-1} pc^2, which yields a total molecular gas mass of ~6 x 10^{10} Msun. We also present a map of the 850-um continuum emission obtained using SCUBA, from which we infer a far-IR luminosity and dust mass of L_FIR ~ 9 x 10^{12} Lsun and M_d ~ 9 x 10^{8} Msun. We find tentative evidence that the CO and sub-mm dust emission is extended over several tens of kpc. If confirmed by high-resolution imaging, this implies that ERO J164502+4626.4 is not simply a high redshift counterpart of a typical Ultra Luminous Infrared Galaxy (ULIRG).Comment: 21 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

The stranding anomaly as population indicator: the case of Harbour Porpoise <i>Phocoena phocoena</i> in North-Western Europe

Ecological indicators for monitoring strategies are expected to combine three major characteristics: ecological significance, statistical credibility, and cost-effectiveness. Strategies based on stranding networks rank highly in cost-effectiveness, but their ecological significance and statistical credibility are disputed. Our present goal is to improve the value of stranding data as population indicator as part of monitoring strategies by constructing the spatial and temporal null hypothesis for strandings. The null hypothesis is defined as: small cetacean distribution and mortality are uniform in space and constant in time. We used a drift model to map stranding probabilities and predict stranding patterns of cetacean carcasses under H-0 across the North Sea, the Channel and the Bay of Biscay, for the period 1990-2009. As the most common cetacean occurring in this area, we chose the harbour porpoise <i>Phocoena phocoena</i> for our modelling. The difference between these strandings expected under H-0 and observed strandings is defined as the stranding anomaly. It constituted the stranding data series corrected for drift conditions. Seasonal decomposition of stranding anomaly suggested that drift conditions did not explain observed seasonal variations of porpoise strandings. Long-term stranding anomalies increased first in the southern North Sea, the Channel and Bay of Biscay coasts, and finally the eastern North Sea. The hypothesis of changes in porpoise distribution was consistent with local visual surveys, mostly SCANS surveys (1994 and 2005). This new indicator could be applied to cetacean populations across the world and more widely to marine megafauna