scholarly journals A Non-Destructive and Direction-Insensitive Method Using a Strain Sensor and Two Single Axis Angle Sensors for Evaluating Corn Stalk Lodging Resistance

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingqian Guo ◽  
Ruipeng Chen ◽  
Xiaoquan Sun ◽  
Min Jiang ◽  
Haifeng Sun ◽  
...  
HardwareX ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. e00226
Author(s):  
Andrew M Stucker ◽  
Ethan Morris ◽  
Christopher J Stubbs ◽  
Daniel J Robertson

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingqian Guo ◽  
Ruipeng Chen ◽  
Liuzheng Ma ◽  
Haifeng Sun ◽  
Mengmeng Weng ◽  
...  

Corn stalk lodging, which involves the breakage of the stalk below the ear following either bad weather, insect infestation or stormy rain, usually leads to harvest loss, increased harvesting time and higher drying costs. The objective of this study was to develop a method that can classify corn stalk lodging resistance. This method, which employed the maximum equivalent force exerted on a corn stalk, corresponding stalk agronomic traits, and the singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm, showed that the five corn varieties with different stalk lodging resistance from two planting densities of 60,000 plants/ha and 75,000 plants/ha can be effectively classified. A customized device was designed to measure the equivalent forces. Three factors, including the planting density, the stalk diameter, and the maximum equivalent force with comprehensive contributions of −0.4603, 0.4196 and 0.4068, which are related to principal components, play an important role in the classification of corn stalk lodging resistance. The results showed that the corn stalk lodging resistance decreased with increase in planting density; however, with the increase in stalk diameter and maximum equivalent force, the lodging resistance significantly increased. Corn breeders can develop higher lodging resistance-based corn varieties by using this approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 2419-2428
Author(s):  
Qun WANG ◽  
Jun XUE ◽  
Jiang-lu CHEN ◽  
Ying-hu FAN ◽  
Guo-qiang ZHANG ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas D. Cook ◽  
Kyler Meehan ◽  
Levan Asatiani ◽  
Daniel J Robertson

Abstract Background: Stalk lodging (breaking of plant stems prior to harvest) is a major impediment to increasing agricultural yields of grain crops. Rind puncture resistance is commonly used to predict the lodging resistance of several crop species. However, there exist no standard operating procedures or suggested protocols for conducting rind penetration experiments. In addition, experimental details of rind penetration tests such as the shape and size of the penetrating probe are rarely reported in the literature. This has prevented meta-analysis of results and has likewise prevented key findings of past studies from being replicated. As a first step towards establishing an agreed upon measurement standard for rind puncture resistance this study investigates the effect of the puncturing probe’s geometry on test results.Results: Results demonstrate that probe geometry has a significant impact on test results. In particular, results showed that a 2mm diameter chamfered probe produced stronger correlations with stalk bending strength than a 1.5mm diameter pointed probe. The chamfered probe was also more strongly correlated with geometric features of the stalk that are known to influence stalk lodging resistance (e.g., rind thickness, diameter and section modulus). In addition, several alternative rind penetration metrics were investigated, and some were found to be superior to the most common rind penetration metric of maximum load. Conclusions:There is a need in the agricultural and plant science community to create agreed-upon operating procedures and testing standards related to mechanical traits of plant stems. In particular, a standardized probe geometry and insertion rate for rind penetration studies are needed to enable greater interoperability and meta-analysis of results. Probe shape and size should be reported in any study conducting rind penetration tests as these factors significantly impact test results.


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-304
Author(s):  
S. TWUMASI-AFRIYIE ◽  
R. B. HUNTER

A study was conducted during the 2 yr, 1978 and 1979, to determine an effective method of enhancing stalk lodging in maize (Zea mays L.) with the objective of being able to differentiate among hybrids for lodging susceptibility under conditions of low natural lodging. Six maize hybrids representing a wide range of stalk lodging resistance were used in the study. The techniques utilized were inoculating plants with a stalk rot pathogen (Gibberella zeae (Schw.) Petch) and/or infesting plants with European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.). Both techniques, individually or in combination, were effective in enhancing lodging. Under environmental conditions and cultural practices where natural stalk lodging was low and differences in stalk lodging among hybrids would have otherwise been masked, the two lodging-enhancing techniques allowed for improved detection of hybrid differences. Both treatment effects and differences among hybrids for stalk lodging increased as stalk lodging rating was delayed, indicating delayed rating is preferable. Disadvantages to delayed rating are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Cornwall ◽  
Christopher J. Stubbs ◽  
Christopher S. McMahan ◽  
Daniel J. Robertson

The biomechanical role of the clasping leaf sheath in stalk lodging events has been historically understudied. Results from this study indicate that in some instances the leaf sheath plays an even larger role in reinforcing wheat against stalk lodging than the stem itself. Interestingly, it appears the leaf sheath does not resist bending loads by merely adding more material to the stalk (i.e., increasing the effective diameter). The radial preload of the leaf sheath on the stem, the friction between the sheath and the stem and several other complex biomechanical factors may contribute to increasing the stalk bending strength and stalk flexural rigidity of wheat. Results demonstrated that removal of the leaf sheath induces alternate failure patterns in wheat stalks. In summary the biomechanical role of the leaf sheath is complex and has yet to be fully elucidated. Many future studies are needed to develop high throughput phenotyping methodologies and to determine the genetic underpinnings of the clasping leaf sheath and its relation to stalk lodging resistance. Research in this area is expected to improve the lodging resistance of wheat.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J Stubbs ◽  
Yusuf Oduntan ◽  
Tyrone Keep ◽  
Scott D Noble ◽  
Daniel J. Robertson

AbstractBackgroundStalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) is a multi-billion dollar a year problem. Stalk lodging occurs when bending moments induced by a combination of external loading (e.g. wind) and self-loading (e.g. the plant’s own weight) exceed the bending strength of plant stems. Previous biomechanical plant stem models have investigated both external loading and self-loading of plants, but have evaluated them as separate and independent phenomena. However, these two types of loading are highly interconnected and mutually dependent. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to investigate the combined effect of external loads and plant weight on the displacement and stress state of plant stems / stalks, and (2) to provide a generalized framework for accounting for self-weight during mechanical phenotyping experiments used to predict stalk lodging resistance.ResultsA method of properly accounting for the interconnected relationship between self-loading and external loading of plants stems is presented. The interconnected set of equations are used to produce user-friendly applications by presenting (1) simplified self-loading correction factors for a number of common external loading configurations of plants, and (2) a generalized Microsoft Excel framework that calculates the influence of self-loading on crop stems. The effect of self-loading on the structural integrity of wheat is examined in detail. A survey of several other plants is conducted and the influence of self-loading on their structural integrity is also presented.ConclusionsThe self-loading of plants plays a potentially critical role on the structural integrity of plant stems. Equations and tools provided herein enable researchers to account for the plant’s weight when investigating the flexural rigidity and bending strength of plant stems.


Plant Methods ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf A. Oduntan ◽  
Christopher J. Stubbs ◽  
Daniel J. Robertson

Abstract Background Stalk lodging (mechanical failure of plant stems during windstorms) leads to global yield losses in cereal crops estimated to range from 5% to 25% annually. The cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks is a key determinant of stalk lodging resistance. However, previously developed techniques for quantifying cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks are relatively low-throughput, expensive and often require specialized equipment and expertise. There is need for a simple and cost-effective technique to quantify plant traits related to stalk lodging resistance in a high-throughput manner. Results A new phenotyping methodology was developed and applied to a range of plant samples including, maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), wheat (Triticum aestivum), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Arabidopsis (Arabis thaliana). The major diameter, minor diameter, rind thickness and number of vascular bundles were quantified for each of these plant types. Linear correlation analyses demonstrated strong agreement between the newly developed method and more time-consuming manual techniques (R2 > 0.9). In addition, the new method was used to generate several specimen-specific finite element models of plant stalks. All the models compiled without issue and were successfully imported into finite element software for analysis. All the models demonstrated reasonable and stable solutions when subjected to realistic applied loads. Conclusions A rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly phenotyping methodology was developed to quantify two-dimensional plant cross-sections. The methodology offers reduced sample preparation time and cost as compared to previously developed techniques. The new methodology employs a stereoscope and a semi-automated image processing algorithm. The algorithm can be used to produce specimen-specific, dimensionally accurate computational models (including finite element models) of plant stalks.


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Wang ◽  
Jun Xue ◽  
Guoqiang Zhang ◽  
Jianglu Chen ◽  
Ruizhi Xie ◽  
...  

The decrease of maize stalk quality is an important reason for stalk lodging during the grain filling stage. In the present study, a maize cultivar was planted at densities of 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0, and 13.5 × 104 plants ha−1 and subjected to nitrogen application rates of 0, 270, 360, and 450 kg ha−1 (denoted as N0, N270, N360, and N450). The stalk breaking force, mechanical strength, carbohydrate content, and nitrogen content of basal internodes were determined to study the effects of nitrogen application rate on the stalk lodging resistance of maize under different planting densities with integrated watering and fertilization using drip irrigation. At densities of 7.5 to 10.5 × 104 plants ha−1, the stalk breaking force, rind penetration strength (RPS), and crushing strength (CS) of the basal internode decreased first and then increased with increasing nitrogen application rate, with the lowest values obtained for the N270 treatment. Meanwhile, at planting densities of 12.0 × 104 plants ha−1 and above, the stalk breaking force, RPS, and CS increased with increasing nitrogen application rate. The basal internode dry weight per unit length (DWUL) and total N content increased with increasing nitrogen application rate. The breaking force was significantly positively correlated with the DWUL and mechanical strength of the basal internode. The RPS showed a positive linear correlation with the contents of cellulose, lignin, and total N of the third internode. Under the split application of water and fertilizer, the maize stalk total dry matter and contents of cellulose, lignin, and total nitrogen increased with increasing nitrogen fertilization rate during the grain filling stage at high planting density, so the stalk lodging resistance improved.


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