Electro-Optical Model of Soiling Effects on Photovoltaic Panels and Performance Implications

In this paper,a detailed model of a photovoltaic(PV)panel is used to study the accumulation of dust on solar panels.The presence of dust diminishes the incident light intensity penetrating the panel’s cover glass,as it increases the reflection of light by particles.This phenomenon,commonly known as the“soiling effect”,presents a significant challenge to PV systems on a global scale.Two basic models of the equivalent circuits of a solar cell can be found,namely the single-diode model and the two-diode models.The limitation of efficiency data in manufacturers’datasheets has encouraged us to develop an equivalent electrical model that is efficient under dust conditions,integrated with optical transmittance considerations to investigate the soiling effect.The proposed approach is based on the use of experimental current-voltage(I-V)characteristics with simulated data using MATLAB/Simulink.Our research outcomes underscores the feasibility of accurately quantifying the reduction in energy production resulting from soiling by assessing the optical transmittance of accumulated dust on the surface of PV glass.

Soiling Effect and Remedial Measures of Solar Photovoltaic System Performance in Kuwait

The Gulf Cooperation Countries have the advantages of fundamental characteristics and abundant natural resources due to the high proportion of solar radiation, which helps to expand the transition to renewable energy, especially in solar projects. The Kuwait location was chosen for this research because of its high dust levels and average daily sunshine of 9.4 hours. The soiling map of Kuwait was then created using PVsyst software. A theoretical and mathematical model for 100 MW was developed based on many environmental and technical parameters. The model was run with Kuwait parameters and 100 MW solar PV power plant capacity. The results show that more than 25% of total generated electricity could be lost annually without any mitigation strategy. Furthermore, the efficiency loss could increase by around 50% during the seasons with sandstorms and high soiling rates. Additionally, manual and automatic cleaning methods were found to increase energy production from 112,092 MWh to 207,300 MWh. Moreover, manual cleaning reduced energy costs by 4.9%, but automated cleaning resulted in a 17.34% higher energy-saving cost than a system without cleaning. In addition, when using the automatic cleaning system, the system’s payback period was reduced from 9.22 to 7.86 years. Therefore, an automated cleaning system is recommended for use in Kuwait.

Effects of subsoiling depth,period interval and combined tillage practice on soil properties and yield in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain,China

Compact!on layers are widely distributed in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain,China,which restrict root growth and reduce yields.The adoption of subsoiling has been recommended to disrupt compacted soil layers and create a reasonable soil structure for crop development.In this paper,the effects of subsoiling depth(30,35 and 40 cm),period interval(2 or 3 years)and combined pre-sowing tillage practice(rotary cultivation or ploughing)on soil condition improvement was studied on a tidal soil in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.Seve n tillage patter ns were desig ned by combini ng differe nt subsoili ng depths,period intervals and pre-sowing.The evaluation indicators for soil condition improvement were as follows:thickness of the plough layer and hard pan,soil bulk density,cone index,soil three-phase R values,alkali nitrogen content,crop yield,and economic ben efits.The results showed that subsoiling can sign ificantly improve the soil structure and physical properties.In all subsoiling treatments,the depth of 35 or 40 cm at a 2-year interval was the most significant.The thickness of the plough layer in creased from 13.67 cm before the test to 21.54-23.45 cm in 2018.The thick ness of the hard pan decreased from 17.68 cm before the test to 12.09-12.76 cm in 2018,a decrease of about 40.07%.However,the subsoiling combined presowing tillage practice,that is,rotary cultivation or ploughing,was not significant for soil structure and physical properties.For all subsoiling treatments,the soil bulk density,cone index and soil three-phase R values of the 15-25 cm soil layer were significantly lower compared to single rotary cultivation.Subsoiling was observed to increase the soil alkaline nitrogen and water conte nts.The tillage patter ns that had subsoiling at the depth of 35-40 cm at a 2-year in terval combi ned with rotary cultivation had the highest alkali nitrogen and water contents,which increased by 31.08-34.23%compared with that of the single rotary cultivati on.Subsoiling can sign ifica ntly in crease the yield both of wheat and corn,as well as the economic ben efits.The treatment of subsoili ng at the depth of 35 cm at an interval of 2 years com bined with rotary cultivation had the highest ann ual yield and economic benefits.For this treatme nt,the arinual yield and economic ben efits in creased by 14.55 and 62.87%in 2018,respectively.In con clusi on,the tillage patter ns that involved subsoili ng at a depth of 35 cm at a 2-year interval along with rotary cultivation are suitable for the Huang?Huai-Hai Plain.

Effects of dust,soiling,aging,and weather conditions on photovoltaic system performances in a Saharan environment—Case study in Algeria

Solar photovoltaic(PV)power represents one of the most promising future sources of energy in the world.Considered the cleanest form of energy,extensive research is being undertaken to widen its use.Notably,mega projects are being considered for installation in the Middle East and North Africa(MENA)region because of its high solar potential,with hopes of eventually feeding Europe from the PV electricity generated in this region and transported through high voltage direct current(DC)lines.However,current implementation of PV systems has shown that their reliability and efficiency depend upon surrounding environmental factors,such as the ambient temperature,wind,and rainfall,as well as soiling,pollution,and aging.The aim of this study was to investigate,through experimental tests,the effects of such factors on the power output of a grid connected PV station.The results showed that the output power and efficiency are deeply affected by various environmental factors,which are weather dependent.These findings may help us develop appropriate solutions to overcome these drawbacks.

Photovoltaic Cell Panels Soiling Inspection Using Principal Component Thermal Image Processing

Intended for good productivity and perfect operation of the solar power grid a failure-free system is required.Therefore,thermal image processing with the thermal camera is the latest non-invasive(without manual contact)type fault identification technique which may give good precision in all aspects.The soiling issue,which is major productivity affecting factor may import from several reasons such as dust on the wind,bird mucks,etc.The efficient power production sufferers due to accumulated soil deposits reaching from 1%–7%in the county,such as India,to more than 25%in middle-east countries country,such as Dubai,Kuwait,etc.This research offers a solar panel soiling detection system built on thermal imaging which powers the inspection method and mitigates the requirement for physical panel inspection in a large solar production place.Hence,in this method,solar panels can be verified by working without disturbing production operation and it will save time and price of recognition.India ranks 3rd worldwide in the usage use age of Photovoltaic(PV)panels now and it is supported about 8.6%of the Nation’s electricity need in the year 2020.In the meantime,the installed PV production areas in India are aged 4–5 years old.Hence the need for inspection and maintenance of installed PV is growing fast day by day.As a result,this research focuses on finding the soiling hotspot exactly of the working solar panels with the help of Principal Components Thermal Analysis(PCTA)on MATLAB Environment.

Effects of Subsoiling on Some Soil Physical Properties and Wheat Yield in a Dry Land Ecological Condition

In order to evaluate the effect of subsoiling on the soil physical properties and wheat yield in dry land conditions, this research was conducted in Mamassani area of Fars province in Iran. The experiment was laid down in the form of a complete block experimental design with four treatments and four replications for three years. Treatments included： （1） conventional tillage without using subsoiler which was control treatment （So）; （2） using subsoiler with the shank space of 40 cm which was equal to the subsoiling depth （SO; （3） using subsoiler with the shank space of 60 cm which was 1.5 times of the subsoiling depth （S2）; and （4） using subsoiler with the shank space of 80 cm which was 2 times of the subsoiling depth （S3）. Subsoiling depth was set at 40 cm which was the lower limit of the hard pan depth in the soil. Soil cone index, soil bulk density, soil moisture content, wheat yield, and yield components were measured in this study and SAS software was used to analyze the collected data. Results showed that subsoiling decreased the soil bulk density and cone index, and increased water retention of the soil. Results also revealed that applying subsoiler increased wheat yield and yield components in our dry land conditions. Since subsoiling improved soil physical conditions and increases wheat yield, applying subsoiler in such a dry land conditions is therefore recommended. Results of this study also showed that subsoiling with the shank space of 40 cm and 60 cm had better performance compared to the shank space of 80 cm. On the other hand, shank space of 40 cm reduced the subsoiler effective working width and consequently effective field capacity. Therefore, subsoiler with a shank space of 60 cm is recommended for application in dry land soils of our type.

Strip rotary tillage with subsoiling increases winter wheat yield by alleviating leaf senescence and increasing grain filling

Sustainable agriculture in the Huang–Huai–Hai Plain of China is threatened by subsoil compaction and the decline of winter wheat productivity induced by inappropriate tillage regimes. We investigated the effects of optimizing the tillage regime on grain filling and its relationship with flag leaf senescence post-anthesis in winter wheat. Four treatments were compared: rotary tillage, strip rotary tillage, strip rotary tillage with a 2-year subsoiling interval(STS), and conventional plowing tillage. STS produced higher chlorophyll content and leaf area indexes than other treatments, resulting in a greater photosynthetically active radiation capture ratio. The net photosynthesis rate of flag leaves from 14 to 28 days after anthesis and dry matter accumulation at maturity were higher in STS than in other treatments. Sucrose content and sucrose phosphate synthase activity of flag leaves first increased and then decreased during grain filling and were highest in STS. STS increased superoxide dismutase activity, increased soluble protein content, and reduced malondialdehyde concentrations in flag leaves after the middle grain-filling stages,resulting in reduced premature senescence. This consequence extended the active grain filling period and increased grain weight. The highest yields were observed in STS, reaching10,451 kg ha-1 in 2014–2015 and 10,074 kg ha-1 in 2015–2016, owing to increased spike numbers and 1000-kernel weight. Overall, our study suggested that STS could substantially increase photosynthetic capacity and delay leaf senescence, thus promoting grain filling rate and increasing winter wheat yields.

Retention of eucalyptus harvest residues reduces soil compaction caused by deep subsoiling

Eucalyptus harvesting,forwarding and soil tillage operations are among the main causes for compaction of forest soils,with potential impacts on productivity.This concern is especially important in areas with soils that are naturally compacted(fragipans and duripans).In these soils,tillage operations include the use of subsoilers that can reach depths of more than one meter and require heavy tractors that exert high pressure on the soil.One of the ways to try to minimize the effect of this compaction is by retaining harvest residues.The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of eucalyptus harvesting on soil physical attributes,as well as to determine the potential of different types of residue management to reduce compaction from the soil tillage operation.Two experiments were conducted in the same area with a Yellow Argisol.In the first experiment,compaction caused by mechanized harvesting with harvester+forwarder was evaluated.In the second experiment,different managements of harvest residues were examined as potential modifiers of soil compaction during tillage for new plantings.For this,three managements systems were tested:(1)retention of all harvest residues and litter from the previous rotation(HR+L),(2)retention of litter from the previous rotation(L),and(3)removal of harvest residues and litter from the previous rotation(WR).Before and after harvest,sampling was carried out in the planting rows and inter-rows,and after tillage,samples were collected in the traffic line of the subsoiler-tractor set.In both experiments,undisturbed soil samples were collected from the center of the 0-10,10-20,20-40,40-60,and 60-100 cm layers to determine soil density and total porosity.In each period and site of evaluation,mechanical resistance to penetration up to the 60-cm depth was also determined.The harvesting operation increased soil density at 0-10 and 60-100 cm depths only in the inter-rows.Retention of harvest residues and litter(HR+L)after harvesting avoided increases in soil density and penetration resistance caused by machine traffic during tillage.The results indicate the importance of retaining harvest residues on forest soils for achieving sustainable utilization and for conserving soil quality.

A model to determine soiling,shading and thermal losses from PV yield data

Apart from being a clean source of energy,photovoltaic(PV)power plants are also a source of income generation for its investors and lenders.Therefore,mitigation of system losses is crucial for economic operation of PV plants.Combined losses due to soiling,shading and temperature in PV plants go as high as 50%.Much of these losses are unaccounted initially,which can jeopardize the economic viability of PV projects.This paper aims to provide a model to determine losses due to soiling,shading and temperature using quantities like irradiance,cell temperature,DC power and current,which are readily available in PV yield data captured by the remote monitoring system,without involving any additional sensors or equipment.In this study,soiling,shading and thermal losses were calculated using PV yield data obtained from a 30-kWp PV plant located in Kharagpur,India.The results showed soiling and shading losses as high as 25.7%and 9.7%,respectively,in the month of December.Soiling loss was verified by measuring transmittance loss of coupon glasses installed in the vicinity of the plant.Shading loss was verified by shadow simulation using an architectural tool(SketchUp).Array thermal loss obtained using the proposed methodology was found to be in line with the estimated value obtained from PVsyst simulation.Additionally,using time-series data,the energy losses corresponding to soiling,shading and temperature effects were calculated by a numerical-integration technique.The monetary loss due to these energy losses thus obtained provides criteria for deciding when to mitigate the sources of these losses.

Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat-cotton cropping system

Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.

The competition between Bidens pilosa and Setaria viridis alters soil microbial composition and soil ecological function

Bidens pilosa is recognized as one of the major invasive plants in China.Its invasion has been associated with significant losses in agriculture,forestry,husbandry,and biodiversity.Soil ecosystems play an important role in alien plant invasion.Microorganisms within the soil act as intermediaries between plants and soil ecological functions,playing a role in regulating soil enzyme activities and nutrient dynamics.Understanding the interactions between invasive plants,soil microorganisms,and soil ecological processes is vital for managing and mitigating the impacts of invasive species on the environment.In this study,we conducted a systematic analysis focusing on B.pilosa and Setaria viridis,a common native companion plant in the invaded area.To simulate the invasion process of B.pilosa,we constructed homogeneous plots consisting of B.pilosa and S.viridis grown separately as monocultures,as well as in mixtures.The rhizosphere and bulk soils were collected from the alien plant B.pilosa and the native plant S.viridis.In order to focus on the soil ecological functional mechanisms that contribute to the successful invasion of B.pilosa,we analyzed the effects of B.pilosa on the composition of soil microbial communities and soil ecological functions.The results showed that the biomass of B.pilosa increased by 27.51% and that of S.viridis was significantly reduced by 66.56%.The organic matter contents in the bulk and rhizosphere soils of B.pilosa were approximately 1.30 times those in the native plant soils.The TN and NO_(3)^(-)contents in the rhizosphere soil of B.pilosa were 1.30 to 2.71 times those in the native plant soils.The activities of acid phosphatase,alkaline phosphatase,and urease in the rhizosphere soil of B.pilosa were 1.98-2.25 times higher than in the native plant soils.Using high-throughput sequencing of the16S rRNA gene,we found that B.pilosa altered the composition of the soil microbial community.Specifically,many genera in Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were enriched in B.pilosa soils.Further correlation analyses verified that these genera had significantly positive relationships with soil nutrients and enzyme activities.Plant biomass,soil p H,and the contents of organic matter,TN,NO_(3)^(-),TP,AP,TK,and AK were the main factors affecting soil microbial communities.This study showed that the invasion of B.pilosa led to significant alterations in the composition of the soil microbial communities.These changes were closely linked to modifications in plant traits as well as soil physical and chemical properties.Some microbial species related to C,N and P cycling were enriched in the soil invaded by B.pilosa.These findings provide additional support for the hypothesis of soil-microbe feedback in the successful invasion of alien plants.They also offer insights into the ecological mechanism by which soil microbes contribute to the successful invasion of B.pilosa.Overall,our research contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between invasive plants,soil microbial communities,and ecosystem dynamics.

Subsoil tillage enhances wheat productivity,soil organic carbon and available nutrient status in dryland fields

Tillage practices during the fallow period benefit water storage and yield in dryland wheat crops.However,there is currently no clarity on the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),and available nutrients to tillage practices within the growing season.This study evaluated the effects of three tillage practices(NT,no tillage;SS,subsoil tillage;DT,deep tillage)over five years on soil physicochemical properties.Soil samples at harvest stage from the fifth year were analyzed to determine the soil aggregate and aggregate-associated C and N fractions.The results indicated that SS and DT improved grain yield,straw biomass and straw carbon return of wheat compared with NT.In contrast to DT and NT,SS favored SOC and TN concentrations and stocks by increasing the soil organic carbon sequestration rate(SOCSR)and soil nitrogen sequestration rate(TNSR)in the 0-40 cm layer.Higher SOC levels under SS and NT were associated with greater aggregate-associated C fractions,while TN was positively associated with soluble organic nitrogen(SON).Compared with DT,the NT and SS treatments improved soil available nutrients in the 0-20 cm layer.These findings suggest that SS is an excellent practice for increasing soil carbon,nitrogen and nutrient availability in dryland wheat fields in North China.

A dynamic soil freezing characteristic curve model for frozen soil

The soil freezing characteristic curve(SFCC)plays a fundamental role in comprehending thermohydraulic behavior and numerical simulation of frozen soil.This study proposes a dynamic model to uniformly express SFCCs amidst varying total water contents throughout the freezing-thawing process.Firstly,a general model is proposed,wherein the unfrozen water content at arbitrary temperature is determined as the lesser of the current total water content and the reference value derived from saturated SFCC.The dynamic performance of this model is verified through test data.Subsequently,in accordance with electric double layer(EDL)theory,the theoretical residual and minimum temperatures in SFCC are calculated to be-14.5℃to-20℃for clay particles and-260℃,respectively.To ensure that the SFCC curve ends at minimum temperature,a correction function is introduced into the general model.Furthermore,a simplified dynamic model is proposed and investigated,necessitating only three parameters inherited from the general model.Additionally,both general and simplified models are evaluated based on a test database and proven to fit the test data exactly across the entire temperature range.Typical recommended parameter values for various types of soils are summarized.Overall,this study provides not only a theoretical basis for most empirical equations but also proposes a new and more general equation to describe the SFCC.

Biochar Decreases Soil Cadmium(Cd) Availability and Regulates Expression Levels of Cd Uptake/Transport-Related Genes to Reduce Cd Translocation in Rice

Biochar has been used as a soil amendment for heavy metal-contaminated soils, and it has the potential to mitigate Cd accumulation in plants. In this study, we used rice straw biochar(RSB) and kitchen waste biochar(KWB) to clarify the effect of biochar on Cd-contaminated neutral soil, the physiological responses to biochar application, and the gene regulatory networks in a rice genotype.

Damage constitutive model of lunar soil simulant geopolymer under impact loading

Lunar base construction is a crucial component of the lunar exploration program,and considering the dynamic characteristics of lunar soil is important for moon construction.Therefore,investigating the dynamic properties of lunar soil by establishing a constitutive relationship is critical for providing a theoretical basis for its damage evolution.In this paper,a split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)device was used to perform three sets of impact tests under different pressures on a lunar soil simulant geopolymer(LSSG)with sodium silicate(Na_(2)SiO_(3))contents of 1%,3%,5%and 7%.The dynamic stressestrain curves,failure modes,and energy variation rules of LSSG under different pressures were obtained.The equation was modified based on the ZWT viscoelastic constitutive model and was combined with the damage variable.The damage element obeys the Weibull distribution and the constitutive equation that can describe the mechanical properties of LSSG under dynamic loading was obtained.The results demonstrate that the dynamic compressive strength of LSSG has a marked strain-rate strengthening effect.Na_(2)SiO_(3) has both strengthening and deterioration effects on the dynamic compressive strength of LSSG.As Na_(2)SiO_(3) grows,the dynamic compressive strength of LSSG first increases and then decreases.At a fixed air pressure,5%Na_(2)SiO_(3) had the largest dynamic compressive strength,the largest incident energy,the smallest absorbed energy,and the lightest damage.The ZWT equation was modified according to the stress response properties of LSSG and the range of the SHPB strain rate to obtain the constitutive equation of the LSSG,and the model’s correctness was confirmed.

Global Change in Agricultural Flash Drought over the 21st Century

Agricultural flash droughts are high-impact phenomena, characterized by rapid soil moisture dry down. The ensuing dry conditions can persist for weeks to months, with detrimental effects on natural ecosystems and crop cultivation. Increases in the frequency of these rare events in a future warmer climate would have significant societal impact. This study uses an ensemble of 10 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP) models to investigate the projected change in agricultural flash drought during the 21st century. Comparison across geographical regions and climatic zones indicates that individual events are preceded by anomalously low relative humidity and precipitation, with long-term trends governed by changes in temperature, relative humidity, and soil moisture. As a result of these processes, the frequency of both upperlevel and root-zone flash drought is projected to more than double in the mid-and high latitudes over the 21st century, with hot spots developing in the temperate regions of Europe, and humid regions of South America, Europe, and southern Africa.

Manure substitution improves maize yield by promoting soil fertility and mediating the microbial community in lime concretion black soil

Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.

Cell Wall Fixation,Translocation,and Vacuolar Detoxification of Cadmium Contribute to Differential Grain Cadmium Accumulation in Two Rice Cultivars

Cadmium(Cd)toxicity in rice is a major concern for human health and the environment,as it can accumulate in rice grains when grown in Cd-contaminated soils.To mitigate the risk of Cd toxicity,it is crucial to cultivate rice varieties with low grain Cd accumulation.In the summers of 2021 and 2022,we conducted Cd analysis on two rice cultivars,Tianyouhuazhan(TYHZ)and Xiushui 14,grown in fields with varying Cd pollution levels.These cultivars were also subjected to hydroponic treatment with or without 1μmol/L Cd for 7 d to assess Cd accumulation,nitric oxide(NO)production。

Coupling of reduced inorganic fertilizer with plant-based organic fertilizer as a promising fertilizer management strategy for colored rice in tropical regions

Colored rice is a type of high-quality,high-added-value rice that has attracted increasing attention in recent years.The use of large amounts of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer in rice fields results in low fertilizer use efficiency and high environmental pollution.Organic fertilizer is a promising way to improve soil quality and sustain high yields.However,most studies focus on the effect of animal-based organic fertilizers.The effects of different ratios of plantbased organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer on the grain yield and quality of colored rice have rarely been reported.Therefore,a two-year field experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 to study the effects of replacing inorganic N fertilizers with plant-based organic fertilizers on the yield,nitrogen use efficiency(NUE),and anthocyanin content of two colored rice varieties in a tropical region in China.The experimental treatments included no nitrogen fertilization(T1),100% inorganic nitrogen fertilizer(T2),30%inorganic nitrogen fertilizer substitution with plant-based organic fertilizer(T3),60%inorganic nitrogen fertilizer substitution with plant-based organic fertilizer(T4),and 100% plantbased organic fertilizer(T5).The total nitrogen provided to all the treatments except T1 was the same at 120 kg ha-1.Our results showed that the T3 treatment enhanced the grain yield and anthocyanin content of colored rice by increasing nitrogen use efficiency compared with T2.On average,grain yields were increased by 9 and 8%,while the anthocyanin content increased by 16 and 10% in the two colored rice varieties under T3 across the two years,respectively,as compared with T2.Further study of the residual effect of partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers showed that the substitution of inorganic fertilizer with plant-based organic fertilizer improved the soil physiochemical properties,and thus increased the rice grain yield,in the subsequent seasons.The highest grain yield of the subsequent rice crop was observed under the T5 treatment.Our results suggested that the application of plantbased organic fertilizers can sustain the production of colored rice with high anthocyanin content in tropical regions,which is beneficial in reconciling the relationship between rice production and environmental protection.

Enhancing Deep Learning Soil Moisture Forecasting Models by Integrating Physics-based Models

Accurate soil moisture(SM)prediction is critical for understanding hydrological processes.Physics-based(PB)models exhibit large uncertainties in SM predictions arising from uncertain parameterizations and insufficient representation of land-surface processes.In addition to PB models,deep learning(DL)models have been widely used in SM predictions recently.However,few pure DL models have notably high success rates due to lacking physical information.Thus,we developed hybrid models to effectively integrate the outputs of PB models into DL models to improve SM predictions.To this end,we first developed a hybrid model based on the attention mechanism to take advantage of PB models at each forecast time scale(attention model).We further built an ensemble model that combined the advantages of different hybrid schemes(ensemble model).We utilized SM forecasts from the Global Forecast System to enhance the convolutional long short-term memory(ConvLSTM)model for 1–16 days of SM predictions.The performances of the proposed hybrid models were investigated and compared with two existing hybrid models.The results showed that the attention model could leverage benefits of PB models and achieved the best predictability of drought events among the different hybrid models.Moreover,the ensemble model performed best among all hybrid models at all forecast time scales and different soil conditions.It is highlighted that the ensemble model outperformed the pure DL model over 79.5%of in situ stations for 16-day predictions.These findings suggest that our proposed hybrid models can adequately exploit the benefits of PB model outputs to aid DL models in making SM predictions.