Assessing the place and role of crop simulation modelling in Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 877 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Robertson ◽  
G. J. Rebetzke ◽  
R. M. Norton
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Plant Nitrogen ◽  
Crop Simulation ◽  
On Farm

Computer-based crop simulation models (CSMs) are well entrenched as tools for a wide variety of research, development and extension applications. Despite this, critics remain and there are perceptions that CSMs have not contributed to impacts on-farm or in the research community, particularly with plant breeding. This study reviewed the literature, interviewed 45 stakeholders (modellers, institutional representatives and clients of modelling), and analysed the industry-funded project portfolio to ascertain the current state of use of CSMs in the grains industry in Australia, including scientific progress, impacts and development needs. We found that CSMs in Australia are widely used, with ~100 active and independent users, ~15 model developers, and at any one time ~10 postgraduate students, chiefly across six public research institutions. The dominant platform used is APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems Simulator). It is widely used in the agronomic domain. Several cases were documented where CSM use had a demonstrable impact on farm and research practice. The updating of both plant and soil process routines in the models has slowed and even stalled in recent years, and scientific limitations to future use were identified: the soil–plant nitrogen cycle, root growth and function, soil surface water and residue dynamics, impact of temperature extremes on plant function, and up-to-date cultivar parameter sets. There was a widespread appreciation of and optimism for the potential of CSMs to assist with plant-breeding activities, such as environmental characterisation, trait assessment, and design of plant-breeding programs. However, we found little evidence of models or model output being used by plant breeders in Australia, despite significant impacts that have emerged recently in larger international breeding programs. Closer cooperation between geneticists, physiologists and breeders will allow gene-based approaches to characterise and parameterise cultivars in CSMs, demonstrated by recent progress with phenology in wheat. This will give models the ability to deal with a wider range of potential genotype × environment × management scenarios.

scholarly journals CRISPR/Cas9 Technology and Applications in Plants

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Emine Açar ◽  
Yıldız Aka Kaçar
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Genome Editing ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Plant Genome ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Breeding Techniques ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

In order to increase access to nutritious foods around the world, innovative technologies need to be developed and integrated into agricultural production systems. The new plant breeding techniques developed offer many advantages for making modifications in the plant genome. CRSPR/Cas9, one of the genome editing technologies, is an efficient system with high potential that allows the formation of target-oriented mutations in many agricultural products and allows the mutation of new and desired characters to be obtained through breeding programs without the use of foreign genetic elements. In this review, we have summarize the discovery, evalution, functionality, genome editing studies of plants and the strong potentials of CRSPR/Cas9 technology for plant breeding.

Analysis and Simulation Methods of the Mechanisms for the Innovational Development

2019 ◽  
pp. 16-33
Author(s):  
Marta K. Isaeva
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Computer Experiment ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Construction Simulation ◽  
Technological Structure ◽  
Research Sector ◽  
Practical Trial ◽  
Construction Model ◽  
Computation Analysis

The paper dedicates in commemoration of K.A. Bagrinovsky, known scientist, doctor of economic sciences, professor. His thesis was theoretic problems of mathematical modeling and operation of economy. His works in the operations research, the methods making decision, the simulation were received in scientific world. The analysis and the modeling of the mechanisms for scientific and technological development for the production systems of different level in economic hierarchic both centrally controlled economy and making mechanism were conduced by Bagrinovsky in CEMI RAS. The paper presents the investigations (2001–2015) of the analysis and the simulation of the different mechanisms of the innovational activity. It also discusses the methods of the development the complex of the simulation models. In a sense simulation modeling is the science and the art as the selection of the salient parameters for the construction model, intake simplification, the computer experiment and the making decision based on scarcity of accuracy models rest on the heuristic power of men: the practical trial, the intelligence and the intuition. K.A. Bagrinovsky introduced the considerable endowment in the development of this direction for economic and mathematical investigation.The principal object was to show that the relationship between the innovational policy and the technological structure, scientific research sector and the introducing of the progressive production and the organizational structure is obtainable by the models. The character of these relationships may be to use in control of the parameters for the modernization economic. The construction simulation models and the experimental computation analysis were presented the investigations the different mechanisms of the innovational development ant the variants of the estimation have been accomplished on the modeling level by the computer experiment.

scholarly journals Making waves in Breedbase: An integrated spectral data storage and analysis pipeline for plant breeding programs

tppj ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Hershberger ◽  
Nicolas Morales ◽  
Christiano C. Simoes ◽  
Bryan Ellerbrock ◽  
Guillaume Bauchet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Spectral Data ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Analysis Pipeline ◽  
Breeding Programs

scholarly journals 83 Evaluation of transmammary-delivered firocoxib and an ethyl chloride spray to mitigate pain associated with processing procedures in piglets

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Abbie V Viscardi ◽  
Elizabeth Shirtcliff ◽  
Emily Eppler ◽  
Savannah Miller ◽  
Johann Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Ethyl Chloride ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
On Farm

Abstract Piglets raised in commercial production systems in the U.S. undergo painful management procedures, including surgical castration, tail docking and ear notching, without analgesia or anesthesia provision for pain relief. This is a significant animal welfare concern. There is an immediate need to identify the most practical and effective analgesia or anesthesia option for use on-farm. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of 2.0mg/kg firocoxib, administered to the sow and delivered transmammary to her piglets, and a vapocoolant spray (ethyl chloride) to reduce processing pain. Five-day old male and female Yorkshire-cross piglets were used. 2.0mg/kg firocoxib was administered to the sow intramuscularly 7h prior to processing piglets. An ethyl chloride spray was applied to the ears, tail and scrotum of the piglets immediately before ear notching, tail docking and surgical castration, respectively. Piglets were assigned to one of four treatment groups: firocoxib and vapocoolant spray (FV; n=32), firocoxib only (F; n=32), vapocoolant spray only (V; n=32), no treatment (CON; n=32). The observation period was from 24h pre- to 48h post-processing (specific time points = baseline, 0h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 7h, 24h, 30h, 36h, 48h). Preliminary results found piglets displayed significantly more pain-related behaviors at 24h and 30h post-processing than at most other time points (p< 0.05). Piglets had significantly higher cranial temperatures at 7h post-processing than all other time points (p< 0.05). There was a trend in FV and F piglets having a higher cranial temperature at 36h post-processing compared to V and CON piglets (p=0.08). All piglets had significantly higher hair cortisol levels at 4 vs 20-days old (p< .0001); however, there were no significant treatment effects on cranial temperature, hair cortisol or pain behavior, suggesting firocoxib and the ethyl chloride spray were unable to significantly reduce piglet pain post-processing. Further study analysis is needed to confirm these initial findings.

Comparison of Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Occurrence of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella in Antimicrobial-Free and Conventional Pig Production

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
WONDWOSSEN A. GEBREYES ◽  
SIDDHARTHA THAKUR ◽  
W. E. MORGAN MORROW
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistance Pattern ◽  
Swine Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Resistance Patterns ◽  
Conventional Systems ◽  
On Farm

Conventional swine production evolved to routinely use antimicrobials, and common occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella has been reported. There is a paucity of information on the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella in swine production in the absence of antimicrobial selective pressure. Therefore, we compared the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from antimicrobial-free and conventional production systems. A total of 889 pigs and 743 carcasses were sampled in the study. Salmonella prevalence was significantly higher among the antimicrobial-free systems (15.2%) than the conventional systems (4.2%) (odds ratio [OR] = 4.23; P < 0.05). Antimicrobial resistance was detected against 10 of the 12 antimicrobials tested. The highest frequency of resistance was found against tetracycline (80%), followed by streptomycin (43.4%) and sulfamethoxazole (36%). Frequency of resistance to most classes of antimicrobials (except tetracycline) was significantly higher among conventional farms than antimicrobial-free farms, with ORs ranging from 2.84 for chloramphenicol to 23.22 for kanamycin at the on-farm level. A total of 28 antimicrobial resistance patterns were detected. A resistance pattern with streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (n = 130) was the most common multidrug resistance pattern. There was no significant difference in the proportion of isolates with this pattern between the conventional (19.5%) and the antimicrobial-free systems (18%) (OR = 1.8; P > 0.05). A pentaresistance pattern with ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline was strongly associated with antimicrobial-free groups (OR = 5.4; P = 0.01). While showing the higher likelihood of finding antimicrobial resistance among conventional herds, this study also implies that specific multidrug-resistant strains may occur on antimicrobial-free farms. A longitudinal study with a representative sample size is needed to reach more conclusive results of the associations detected in this study.

On-farm Development of Potato Production from True Seed in Indonesia

1992 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Gunadi ◽  
M. J. Potts ◽  
R. Sinung-Basuki ◽  
Greta A. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Potato Seed ◽  
True Potato Seed ◽  
Yield Difference ◽  
Tuber Crop ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Comparable Quality ◽  
Better Than

SummaryThree seasons of on-farm experimentation to develop potato production from botanical or true potato seed (TPS) under cool fertile conditions in West Java, Indonesia, are described. Twenty-three farmers experimented with two production systems: use of transplants, and use of seedling tubers produced in nursery beds. There was little yield difference between the systems, but an apparent progeny × system × season interaction was observed. All progenies were more resistant to late blight than the present cultivars grown from tubers. Appropriate matching of progeny and system gave seed of comparable quality with, but total yields slightly less than, certified imported seed of cv. Granola. Ware quality was slightly better than that of cv. Granola. Production costs were markedly less than for a tuber crop, making TPS ideal for small, resource-poor farmers.

Response of winter wheat to prolonged waterlogging under outdoor conditions

1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Belford
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Stem Elongation ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Plant Nitrogen ◽  
Stages Of Growth ◽  
Nodal Root ◽  
Waterlogging Treatment

SUMMARYThe response of winter wheat cv. Maris Huntsman to waterlogging was studied in two experiments in soil columns outdoors. Winter waterlogging treatments increased nodal root production and the proportion of aerenchyma within roots, but caused chlorosis and premature senescence of leaves, and decreased tillering. For all treatments, grain losses were much less than expected from the extent of tiller loss in winter; losses after single waterlogging events ranged from 2% (after 47 days with the water-table at 5 cm) to 16% (after 80 days with the water-table at the soil surface). Yield losses after three waterloggings at the seedling, tillering and stem elongation stages of growth were additive, and totalled 19%. In many treatments, grain loss was associated with lighter individual grain weights, suggesting that the size of the root system or efficiency of water and nutrient uptake by roots at the later stages of growth may have been less after earlier waterlogging. The importance of nitrogen fertilizer in maintaining a satisfactory plant nitrogen status was shown when nitrogen was with held before a 3-week waterlogging treatment during stem elongation; tiller and floret survival was subsequently greatly restricted and grain yields decreased 22% below those of plants waterlogged at the same stage of growth but supplied with nitrogen.

Overcoming basis risk in agricultural index insurance using crop simulation modeling and satellite crop phenology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi H. Afshar ◽  
Timothy Foster ◽  
Thomas P. Higginbottom ◽  
Ben Parkes ◽  
Koen Hufkens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Index Insurance ◽  
Yield Estimation ◽  
Crop Phenology ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Basis Risk ◽  
Crop Simulation ◽  
Crop Simulation Models

<p>Extreme weather causes substantial damage to livelihoods of smallholder farmers globally and are projected to become more frequent in the coming decades as a result of climate change. Index insurance can theoretically help farmers to adapt and mitigate the risks posed by extreme weather events, providing a financial safety net in the event of crop damage or harvest failure. However, uptake of index insurance in practice has lagged far behind expectations. A key reason is that many existing index insurance products suffer from high levels of basis risk, where insurance payouts correlate poorly with actual crop losses due to deficiencies in the underlying index relationship, contract structure or data used to trigger insurance payouts to farmers. </p><p>In this study, we analyse to what extent the use of crop simulation models and crop phenology monitoring from satellite remote sensing can reduce basis risk in index insurance. Our approach uses a calibrated biophysical process-based crop model (APSIM) to generate a large synthetic crop yield training dataset in order to overcome lack of detailed in-situ observational yield datasets – a common limitation and source of uncertainty in traditional index insurance product design. We use this synthetic yield dataset to train a simple statistical model of crop yields as a function of meteorological and crop growth conditions that can be quantified using open-access earth observation imagery, radiative transfer models, and gridded weather products. Our approach thus provides a scalable tool for yield estimation in smallholder environments, which leverages multiple complementary sources of data that to date have largely been used in isolation in the design and implementation of index insurance</p><p>We apply our yield estimation framework to a case study of rice production in Odisha state in eastern India, an area where agriculture is exposed to significant production risks from monsoonal rainfall variability. Our results demonstrate that yield estimation accuracy improves when using meteorological and crop growth data in combination as predictors, and when accounting for the timing of critical crop development stages using satellite phenological monitoring. Validating against observed yield data from crop cutting experiments, our framework is able to explain around 54% of the variance in rice yields at the village cluster (Gram Panchayat) level that is the key spatial unit for area-yield index insurance products covering millions of smallholder farmers in India. Crucially, our modelling approach significantly outperforms vegetation index-based models that were trained directly on the observed yield data, highlighting the added value obtained from use of crop simulation models in combination with other data sources commonly used in index design.</p>

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