Feature Data-driven Reinforced Fuzzy Radial Basis Function Neural Network Classifier With the Aid of Preprocessing Techniques and Particle Swarm Optimization

In this study, reinforced fuzzy radial basis function neural networks (FRBFNN) classifier driven by feature extracted data completed with the aid of effectively preprocessing techniques and evolutionary optimization, and its comprehensive design methodology are introduced. An Overall structure of the reinforced FRBFNN comprises the preprocessing part, the premise part and the consequence part of fuzzy rules of the network. In the preprocessing part, four types of preprocessing algorithms such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), combination of PCA and LDA (Hybrid PCA) and fuzzy transform (FT) are considered. To extract feature data suitable to characterize signal data, the feature extraction of information data is carried out through the dimensionality reduction done by the preprocessing technique, and then the reduced data are used as the input to the FRBFNN classifier. In the premise part of fuzzy rules of the network, the number of fuzzy rules is determined according to the number of clusters by fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering. The fitness values of individual fuzzy rules are obtained based on data distribution. In the consequence part of fuzzy rules of the network, the parameters of connection weights located between the hidden layer and the output layer of FRBFNN classifier are estimated by means of the least square estimation (LSE). Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is exploited for structural as well as parametric optimization in the FRBFNN classifier. The parameters to be optimized by PSO are related to six factors such as the determination of whether to use data preprocessing, the type of data preprocessing technique, the number of input variables reduced by the preprocessing technique, fuzzification coefficient (FC) and the number of fuzzy rules used in fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering, and the type of connection weights. By using diverse benchmark dataset obtained from UCI repository, the classification performance of the reinforced FRBFNN classifier was evaluated. Through a variety of classification algorithms existed in the Weka data mining software (Weka), the classification performance of the reinforced FRBFNN classifier was compared as well. The superiority of the proposed classifier is demonstrated through Friedman test. Furthermore, we assessed the classification performance of the reinforced FRBFNN classifier applied to black plastic wastes spectral data acquired from Raman and Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) equipment for the practical application of the material sorting system of the black plastic wastes.

The effects of soil temperature from soil mulching and harvest age on phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant contents of Java tea (Orthosiphon aristatus B.)

Background The environmental conditions resulted by the agronomic management practices may govern the secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants, including Java tea (Orthosiphon aristatus B). Abiotic factors such as temperatures have been known to determine the secondary metabolite contents of Java tea. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of soil temperature resulting from soil mulching and harvest age on total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant contents of Java tea. Methods The research was arranged using nested (hierarchy design) with completely randomized design under a screen house at Karanganyar, Indonesia, from July to December 2019. The main factor was soil mulching (control; black plastic mulch, transparent plastic mulch, biodegradable mulch and rice straw mulch) with three replicates. The main factor was nested in the temporal hierarchy factor, namely harvest age which consisted of two levels, i.e., 80 and 100 days. The observation parameters were soil temperature of 10 min (maximum; mean; minimum and soil temperature-based Growing Degree Days, GDD) with sensors and logger; plant growth (plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight); and secondary metabolites including phenol, flavonoids and antioxidant. Results The results confirmed the order of the highest to the lowest mean soil temperature was resulted under the transparent plastic mulch > straw > black plastic mulch > control > biodegradable plastic mulch (26.69 > 26.29 > 26.10 > 26.07 > 25.68 °C, respectively). Overall, the harvest age 100 days resulted in higher plant growth, indicated by the higher fresh and dry weight of biomass, higher phenol and antioxidant contents than 80 days. Soil mulching, especially with plastic and biodegradable plastic mulches with long harvest age (100 days) effected into lower fresh and dry weight of plants. On the other hand, soil mulching indirectly resulted in lower phenol but higher flavonoid contents through higher soil temperature, while antioxidant contents were higher under the big soil temperature-based Growing Degree Day (GDD). The total phenol, flavonoids and antioxidant produced ranging from 193.75 to 412.50 mg GAE/ 100 g DW; 81.13 to 141.47 mg QE/ 100 g DW; and 1875.5–2144.4 µmol TE/g DW. Conclusion Higher maximum soil temperature resulted in lower phenol content, while higher minimum soil temperature and shorter harvest age increased total flavonoid. Longer harvest age produced more total phenol and antioxidant due to bigger soil temperature-based Growing Degree Day (GDD). Graphical Abstract

Crop coefficients of Bt. cotton under variable moisture regimes and mulching

An experiment was undertaken for two years (2013-14 and 2014-15) on sandy loam soils of Junagadh (21°30’ N, 70°27’ E) to determine crop coefficients of Bt. cotton under three mulch treatments (M1- silver black plastic mulch, M2- biodegradable plastic mulch, M3- wheat straw mulch and C - control) with two irrigation regimes (I1- 1.0 IW/ETc, I2-0.8 IW/ETc). Actual evapotranspiration was estimated using soil moisture sensors. Results revealed that adjusted FAO Kc predicts higher value than sensor based Kc values at both irrigation regimes. Silver black plastic mulch recorded lower crop coefficient values at all growth stage of Bt. cotton compared to biodegradable plastic mulch, wheat straw mulch and control. Sensor based Kc ini and Kc-devvalues of silver black plastic mulch observed 72.2, 29.0 and 66.9 and 14.8 per cent lower than control at 1.0 IW/ETc and 0.8 IW/ETc respectively. Overestimated adjusted FAO Kc values caused a loss of 78.1mm and 66.5mm of precious water at 1.0 IW/ETc and 0.8 IW/ETc respectively. This study admonishes blind adoption of published FAO Kc curves for mulch conditions.

Brontaea debilis (Thomson, 1896) (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha: Muscidae) as host for Spalangia drosophilae Ashmead, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Spalanginae) in Brazil

The flies included in the infra-order Cyclorrhapha (Muscomorpha) have medical and veterinary importance, since they may produce myiasis and act in carrying pathogens to man and animals. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Goiás farm in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Every fortnight, ten dishes black plastic containers containing bovine feces were exposed for fifteen days in the pastures. After this period, the feces were sent to the laboratory for pupae extraction. The experiments were carried out from April 2006 to December 2007. Ninety-two pupae of Brontaea debilis (Thomson, 1896) (Diptera: Muscidae), from bovine feces, from which 31 specimens of Spalangia drosophilae Ashmead, 1887 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were emerged. The percentage of parasitism was 33.7%. Spalangia drosophilae is cited in the literature as parasitoid of the pupae of Diptera including Chloropidae, Drosophilidae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae and Sepsidae.

Applicability of plastic mulch and conservation strip tillage for potato production in Bangladesh

<p>Application of plastic mulches in potato production is rarely used by farmers in Bangladesh although it has a good prospect for saving irrigation water, weed control, maintaining tuber quality, and increasing yield. A study was conducted in experimental farm at Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura, Bangladesh to evaluate the precision of irrigation water for potato production using different colored plastic mulches i.e, black and blue in combination with conservation strip tillage and control (no-mulch). Four different treatments were prepared where some of the phenological characteristics of plants as well as yield of potato were compared among treatments by applying the same amount of irrigation water. The results showed that treatment with black plastic mulch had the highest tuber growth as well as yield of 25.1 t ha^-1 compared to other treatments while other treatments such as blue plastic mulch, control, and strip tillage had a yield of 16.37, 13.75, and 15.75 t ha^-1, respectively. Potato plants having black plastic mulch took less time to mature in comparison to other treatments. Black plastic mulch restricts soil moisture evaporation and keeps the soil warm. In conclusion, potato production with various mulches has a great scope in a semi-arid region like Bangladesh and present experimental results will help to improve the understanding of potato growers for adopting best mulch management practices.</p>

Efficacy of Herbicides for Weed Control in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2018-19 at Horticulture farm, RAK College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) to study the effect of different weed management practices on growth and yield of cauliflower. The treatments namely - T1- Weedy check (control), T2- Weed free (through hand weeding) at 30 & 60 DAT, T3 -Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) + one hand weeding at 30 DAT, T4 Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC (PE) + one hand weeding at 30 DAT, T5 - Propaquizafop 10% EC (POE) + one hand weeding at 60 DAT, T6 -Wheat straw mulch 5kg/plot, T7- Black plastic mulch (150 mm) were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Results indicated that the there was no weed under T7 -black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages. The maximum weed control efficiency (98%) was found with the treatment T7 - black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages i.e. at 30, 60 and 90 DAT. The minimum weed index (0.00, 0.00 and 0.00%) was found with the treatment T7 (Black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages. The maximum curd length, curd width, total curd weight (g) and curd yield (q ha-1) was recorded T7- black plastic mulch (150 mm) with the maximum net return (Rs. 75772.58 per ha).While the lowest net return was found under T1 (Weedy check) (Rs. 21405.34 per ha) treatment. The maximum B: C ratio (1:4.0) was recorded in case of treatment T3 [Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) + 1HW at 30 DAT].

Assessing Biodegradable Mulch Duration and Nutsedge Suppression during Late Summer Cucumber Production in Mississippi and Louisiana

Environmental concerns as well as labor costs associated with the use of polyethylene plastic mulch have turned producers’ focus to alternative mulch treatments. A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate nutsedge control, mulch degradation, and cucumber yields on biodegradable mulches at two locations (Louisiana and Mississippi). Mulch treatments included two paper-based mulch products, two biodegradable plastic mulches, the industry standard non-biodegradable black plastic mulch, and an unmulched control. The heavy weight paper-based mulch and light weight paper mulches in the Louisiana location were reduced to 50% or less coverage at the end of the study. Similarly, the paper-based mulches both degraded below 40% at the conclusion of the study at the Mississippi location. The heavy weight paper mulch was able to hold back nutsedge (p ≤ 0.05) at similar rates as the two biodegradable plastic mulches and industry standard plastic mulch, while the light weight paper mulch and unmulched plots were ineffective at reducing emerged sedges. There were no statistical differences in nutsedge control (averaging < 14 emerged plants per 1.5 m subplots) between all mulch materials at the conclusion of the study in the Mississippi location. Combining both states yield data, the heavyweight mulch (8.7 fruit, 5.3 lb) performed comparably to the industry standard plastic mulch (5.8 fruit, 3.5 lb) in terms of both average fruit number and average weights harvested off 9.1 m rows at each harvest date.

Albion Strawberry Responds to Mulch Treatments and Low Tunnels Covered with Photoselective Films

The impact of photoselective films on strawberry plants in a low tunnel system has not been well investigated in the northeastern United States, nor have there been studies looking at the effect of mulch color in a plasticulture system. During two separate years (2016 and 2017), we evaluated ‘Albion’ in an annual system with three ground mulch treatments (black plastic, white-on-black plastic, and no plastic) and under six cover treatments. Five of the cover treatments were low tunnel films that varied in their ultraviolet, photosynthetically active, and near-infrared radiation transmission profiles: Tufflite IVTM (TIV), KoolLite Plus (KLP), Trioplast (TRP), and custom-manufactured UV-transparent (UVT) and UV-blocking (UVO) films. The sixth cover treatment was the traditional open bed environment (no low tunnel). ‘Albion’ produced fruit for 18 to 19 continuous weeks during both years until as late as Thanksgiving (24 Nov.) in 2016. Overall, the average marketable yield was greater in 2017 (486 g/plant) than in 2016 (350 g/plant), and it was greater on black mulch than on no mulch (445 vs. 380 g/plant, respectively); white mulch was intermediate (419 g/plant) (P ≤ 0.05). There was not a significant increase in marketable yield under low tunnels compared with open beds. The average fruit mass was greater under KLP and UVO than open beds (TIV and UVT were intermediate), and greater on beds with no mulch than black mulch (white mulch was intermediate). Across cover treatments, plants on black mulch produced more runners than plants on white or no mulch, and the black mulch/open bed treatment generated the greatest number of runners in both years, more than double most other treatments in 2016. The present study demonstrates that mulch selection is important for maximizing the yield of ‘Albion’ in the Northeast region, and that both mulch and cover impact runnering and fruit size. For plant propagators producing ‘Albion’ tips in a field environment, the results of this study suggest they are likely to maximize runner quantity by cultivating plants on black mulch without low tunnel cover.

Effects of Cover Methods and Nitrogen Levels on the Growth and Yield of Tomato

To study the effects of cover methods and nitrogen (N) levels on the growth and yield components of tomato Cv. Pear F1, field experiments with a 4x3 factorial design were conducted in the 2019 spring and winter seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cover methods included four treatments: bare soil (BS), black plastic mulch (BPM), transparent polypropylene row cover (RC), and a combination of BPM and RC (BPMRC) with the RC removed approximately 30 days after transplanting. Nitrogen (N) was applied at three levels (150, 180, and 210 kg N ha-1). Using BPM and RC generally led to an increased air temperature, air humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature compared to the BS treatment. Higher N rates (180 and 210 kg N ha-1) did not result in different tomato fruit sizes and fruit weights but positively increased fruit yield and quality (Brix values and fruit dry weight) as compared to the 150 kg N ha-1 addition. The cover methods positively affected the yield components and fruit yield of tomato as well as the fruit characteristics compared to the BS treatment. Using cover materials (BPM and RC) combined with a higher N application significantly increased the yield attributes and fruit yield. The highest fruit yield was achieved under the mulching treatment by black plastic (BPM treatment) combined with a 210 kg N ha-1 application, resulting in 50.90 tons ha-1 in the spring and 58.27 tons ha-1 in the winter.