The influence of formula fertilization optimization on dry rubber yield and economic benefits of the rubber plantation in Hainan Longjiang Farm were studied by using "contrast" design method of fertilizer field expe...The influence of formula fertilization optimization on dry rubber yield and economic benefits of the rubber plantation in Hainan Longjiang Farm were studied by using "contrast" design method of fertilizer field experiments. The results showed that the actual production rate reached 4.61% and the net production rate of dry rubber reached 3.97% by application of optimized fertilization formula. Analysis of variance showed that the average dry rubber yield in optimization of formula fertil- ization area was significantly higher than that of conventional area. The results also indicated that the optimization of formula fertilization had obvious economic benefits, and each rubber tree reduced cost and increased 9.95 yuan on average after the test.展开更多
A population of 140 recombinant inbred lines at F8 generation were obtained after seven successive generations of self-pollination using single seed descent(SSD) method from the F2 hybrids of three-line restorers Lu...A population of 140 recombinant inbred lines at F8 generation were obtained after seven successive generations of self-pollination using single seed descent(SSD) method from the F2 hybrids of three-line restorers Luhui 8258 with high combining ability and Yanghui 34. Then, the 140 inbred lines obtained above and their parents Luhui 8258 and Yanghui 34 were crossed with three different types of cyto-plasmic male sterile(CMS) lines(Gang 46 A, Ⅱ-32 A and Lu 98A) according to NCⅡ design. The resulting 426 combinations were planted at Deyang and Suining bases to test the combining ability and inheritance of five yield traits: yield per plant, panicle number per plant, filled grain number per panicle, seed setting rate and 1 000-grain weight. The results showed that the variances of both general and specific combining abilities of the five traits all reached a significant or extremely significant level at the two sites. The broad and narrow heritability of the yield traits(except 1 000-grain weight whose broad and narrow heritability were both over70%) were all below 50% at the two experimental bases, suggesting that the four traits were easily subjected to environment influence. Very significant positive correlation of general combining ability was found between yield per plant and other traits except 1 000-grain weight. The general combining ability variance showed a normal distribution among the recombinant inbred lines at two sites, right in line with inheritance of quantitative traits. So, the genes controlling rice general combining ability can be targeted by QTL mapping.展开更多
China is by far the largest producer of tobacco products in the world. As a big tax source, tobacco industry brings about 10%of China's annual income.At present tobacco industry is under the administrative monopol...China is by far the largest producer of tobacco products in the world. As a big tax source, tobacco industry brings about 10%of China's annual income.At present tobacco industry is under the administrative monopoly management in China. The nation's policy and management mechanism greatly influence the competition structure of tobbacco industry. Due to the double character of tobacco, the country generally imposes a high tax and limits total product output in order to control the tobacco market. Therefore, the price signal of tobacco market is distorted and to a large extent the competition of the industry is far from a free one. The cigarette production is in a multi element competition style within the nation's planning system. In other words, administrative monopoly and over competition exist simultaneously in China's tobacco industry. The country predetermines the output quota of each cigarette manufacturing enterprise and the actual production outputs of these enterprises could be adjusted through the quota trades among them. The competition in tobacco industry is mainly represented in 3 modes, i.e.production output competition based on quota trades, value added competition in producing and marketing, and the niche market competition based on product classification.展开更多
A network plan model of ship erection was established based on the network planning technology and the work-package breakdown system. The load-oriented production control method was introduced to build up a throughput...A network plan model of ship erection was established based on the network planning technology and the work-package breakdown system. The load-oriented production control method was introduced to build up a throughput diagram model thus it is possible to describe the ship erection process numerically. Based on the digitalized models some cases of production balance of ship erection were studied and three balance indexes were put forward, they are the load balance rate, the input manpower balance rate and the maximum gantry crane operating times. Such an analytic method based on the balance evaluation is the important foundation for digitization and intelligentization of shipyard production management.展开更多
[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the yield potential of newly developed Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice parents and provide the theoretical basis for breeding of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Method] An...[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the yield potential of newly developed Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice parents and provide the theoretical basis for breeding of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Method] An incomplete diallel cross of four cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and four restorer lines was designed to investigate the combining ability for yield and yield components of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Result] The variances of general combining ability (GCA) for yield traits were extremely significantly different. GCA variances of male parents were higher than that of female parents except for seed-setting rate. The variances of specific combining ability (SCA) for grain yield per plant, number of effective spikes and seed-setting rate were significantly or extremely significantly different. 139A and Wanlun 422 exhibited higher GCA effects. Most yield traits of these two parents be- longed to type II. Combinations 139AxWanlun 422 and Liaojingl0AxWanlun 422 had relatively high grain yield per plant and SCA effects. GCA effects of restorer lines and SCA effects of combinations greatly affected yield traits, while GCA ef- fects of CMS lines slightly affected yield traits. [Conclusion] In this study, restorer lines exhibited greater genetic differences and impact on yield traits than CMS lines; 139A and Wanlun 422 possessed higher application potential.展开更多
Hybrid tilapia weighing 7.71 g were reared in seawater at 24.0-29.0℃ for 8 weeks. The controls were fed to satiation twice a day throughout the experiment, whereas treatment groups were fed at 0.5%, 1.5% or 3.0% body...Hybrid tilapia weighing 7.71 g were reared in seawater at 24.0-29.0℃ for 8 weeks. The controls were fed to satiation twice a day throughout the experiment, whereas treatment groups were fed at 0.5%, 1.5% or 3.0% body weight per day for 4 weeks, and then to satiation for the remainder of the experiment. During the first 4-week period, there was a curvilinear relationship between growth rate and ration size. Fish fed 0.5% and 1.5% rations displayed compensatory growth response of 2 weeks duration during realimentation. The weight-adjusted growth rate of fish fed at 3% ration was not significantly different from that of the controls by the end of the experiment, when none of the treatment groups had caught up in body weight with the controls. Hyperphagia was observed for the first 2 weeks of realimenatation in fish previously fed at 3% ration, but persisted for the whole realimentation period in groups previously fed at 0.5% and 1.5% rations. None of the feed restricted groups showed improved digestibility, feed efficiency, or protein and energy retention efficiency.展开更多
Field experiments were conducted during 2008-2010 to investigate the ef- fects of NPK fertilization on seed yield and economic benefit of a new hybrid cultivar of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) - Xiangzayou...Field experiments were conducted during 2008-2010 to investigate the ef- fects of NPK fertilization on seed yield and economic benefit of a new hybrid cultivar of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) - Xiangzayou763, and to determine the optimum NPK ratio and dose in Hunan, China. The results showed that NPK ratio (1:0.50:0.50) with 180 kg/hm2 N, 90 kg/hm2 P2O5 and 90 kg/hm2 K20 was the optimum combination for the highest seed yield (2 231.13 kg/hm2) and economic benefit (9 816.97 Yuan/hm2), of which 1 641.23 Yuan/hm2 being set for fertilizer in- vestment (VCR=4.11). Besides, the effects of N, P and K fertilizers on seed yield and oil production of winter oilseed rape were not identical. N had the greatest ef- fect on plant growth of winter oilseed rape, followed by P and K. Total leaf number, green leaf number, leaf length and width, rhizome diameter, branch number, dry weight per plant and other agronomic characters in high N treatments were higher than those in low N treatments. By correlation and path analysis of yield components, the contribution rate to seed yield was found: effective silique number per plant〉seed number per silique〉l 000-seed weight.展开更多
A macro scale survey was performed to investigate the content of soil available nitrogen (N) and its spatial distribution in the main vegetable production areas of the Pearl River Delta.Preliminary enrichment-deficien...A macro scale survey was performed to investigate the content of soil available nitrogen (N) and its spatial distribution in the main vegetable production areas of the Pearl River Delta.Preliminary enrichment-deficient index of available N was then developed,which was a base for increasing fertilizer application efficiency and vegetable yield as well as for constructing soil testing and fertilizing formula.In general,most of the vegetable growth areas in Pearl River Delta were N-deficient or medium-N-deficient.There was 30%-62% increase in yield of Chinese cabbage on the N-deficient soil after application of N; when soil available N content was less than 145 mg/kg,the yield increased with application of N fertilizer at a rate of 60-70 kg/hm2.展开更多
[Objective] This study was conducted to analyze the difference in the general combining ability of yield traits of rice varieties in China and South Asia and to provide reference for the introduction and utilization o...[Objective] This study was conducted to analyze the difference in the general combining ability of yield traits of rice varieties in China and South Asia and to provide reference for the introduction and utilization of rice restorer lines from South Asia. [Method] A total of 111 hybrids were obtained by crossing 37 restorer lines in China and South Asia with Gang 46A, Lu 98A and Dexiang 074 following a NC II design. The combining ability of eight yield traits of the hybrids was analyzed in Luzhou and Deyang bases of Sichuan Province. [Result] In both bases, the eight yield traits had significant or extremely significant differences between the combina- tions, restorer lines, sterile lines or sterile line^restorer line, suggesting that there were d^erences in the genetic effects between the combinations or lines. The gen- eral combining ability (GCA) variances were all higher than special combining ability (SCA) variances in parents, which indicated that these traits were affected by gene additive effect. Restorer lines contributed more to F1 generation than male sterile liens in the eight yield traits. Nine restorer lines from India and Bangladesh were ranked in the top 15 lines with high GCA in the number of productive tillers in both bases. [Co.cl.siee] There was significant differences in the combining ability in the eight yield traits between the restorer lines from China and South Asia. The lines from India and Bangladesh were better than those from China in the GCA of the number of productive tillers, and the lines from China were better than those from India and Bangladesh in the GCA of other traits.展开更多
An efficient synthesis of 2,6-pyridine dimethyl formate happened under the microwave irradiation is proposed. It is noteworthy that some factors influence the product yield such as time, temperature, ratio of reactant...An efficient synthesis of 2,6-pyridine dimethyl formate happened under the microwave irradiation is proposed. It is noteworthy that some factors influence the product yield such as time, temperature, ratio of reactants, and acidity which were discussed. The optimized quantity of 2,6-pyridine dimethyl acid is 10 mmol and methanol is 25 mmol. The yield is up to 95%-96% when using 2 mL 30% sulfuric acid. All products have been characterized by IR and 1H NMR.展开更多
The hydrogen abstraction reaction of methanol with fluorine atoms can produce HF and CH_(3)O or CH_(2)OH radicals,which are important in the environment,combustion,radiation,and interstellar chemistry.In this work,the...The hydrogen abstraction reaction of methanol with fluorine atoms can produce HF and CH_(3)O or CH_(2)OH radicals,which are important in the environment,combustion,radiation,and interstellar chemistry.In this work,the dynamics of this typical reaction is investigated by the quasi-classical trajectory method based on a recently developed globally accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface.Particularly,the vibrational state distributions of the polyatomic products CH_(3)O and CH_(2)OH are determined by using the normal mode analysis method.It is found that CH_(3)O and CH_(2)OH are dominantly populated in the ground state when the reactants are at the ground ro-vibrational state.The OH stretching mode,torsional mode,H_(2)CO out-of-plane bending mode and their combination bands in the CH_(2)OH product can be effectively excited once the OH stretching mode of the reactant CH_(3)OH is excited to the first vibrationally excited state.Most of the available energy flows into the HF vibrational energy and the translational energy in both channels,while the radical products,CH_(3)O or CH_(2)OH,receive a small amount of energy,consistent with experiment,which is an indication of its spectator nature.展开更多
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adopting improved maize varieties on crop yield in Uganda using propensity score matching (PSM) algorithms to control for hidden selection bias. The stu...The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adopting improved maize varieties on crop yield in Uganda using propensity score matching (PSM) algorithms to control for hidden selection bias. The study employed cross-sectional household data collected in 2005/2006 by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) across the country. Data were divided into two parts; the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample (those that cultivated less than 5 acres or 2 Hectares of maize in 2004 and 2005). Then estimation was made of the difference in yields between the adopters and non adopters, the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) for the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample. Matching methods were used to control for hidden selection bias and the standardized bias measure was used to check for the quality of matching. The results indicate that adoption of improved maize seed had a robust positive and significant effect on yields obtained by farmers. The results were consistent for both the full and smallholder farmer sub-samples. Sensitivity analysis using Rosenbaum bounds indicated that the ATT results were fairly robust to hidden selection bias. That is, the results were not sensitive to unobserved selection bias. Therefore it is confidently asserted that the estimated average difference in maize yields between the adopters and non-adopters was due to the effect of planting improved maize seed.展开更多
基金Supported by Key Science and Technology Project of Hainan Land Reclamation Bureau([2009]57)~~
文摘The influence of formula fertilization optimization on dry rubber yield and economic benefits of the rubber plantation in Hainan Longjiang Farm were studied by using "contrast" design method of fertilizer field experiments. The results showed that the actual production rate reached 4.61% and the net production rate of dry rubber reached 3.97% by application of optimized fertilization formula. Analysis of variance showed that the average dry rubber yield in optimization of formula fertil- ization area was significantly higher than that of conventional area. The results also indicated that the optimization of formula fertilization had obvious economic benefits, and each rubber tree reduced cost and increased 9.95 yuan on average after the test.
基金Innovation Capacity Building Project of Supported by the Youth Fund of Innovation Capability Building Program of Sichuan Provincial Department of Finance(2014QNJJ-01)National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(2011AA10A101)Special Fund for Public Interest(Super Rice)from the Ministry of Agriculture of China(201100)~~
文摘A population of 140 recombinant inbred lines at F8 generation were obtained after seven successive generations of self-pollination using single seed descent(SSD) method from the F2 hybrids of three-line restorers Luhui 8258 with high combining ability and Yanghui 34. Then, the 140 inbred lines obtained above and their parents Luhui 8258 and Yanghui 34 were crossed with three different types of cyto-plasmic male sterile(CMS) lines(Gang 46 A, Ⅱ-32 A and Lu 98A) according to NCⅡ design. The resulting 426 combinations were planted at Deyang and Suining bases to test the combining ability and inheritance of five yield traits: yield per plant, panicle number per plant, filled grain number per panicle, seed setting rate and 1 000-grain weight. The results showed that the variances of both general and specific combining abilities of the five traits all reached a significant or extremely significant level at the two sites. The broad and narrow heritability of the yield traits(except 1 000-grain weight whose broad and narrow heritability were both over70%) were all below 50% at the two experimental bases, suggesting that the four traits were easily subjected to environment influence. Very significant positive correlation of general combining ability was found between yield per plant and other traits except 1 000-grain weight. The general combining ability variance showed a normal distribution among the recombinant inbred lines at two sites, right in line with inheritance of quantitative traits. So, the genes controlling rice general combining ability can be targeted by QTL mapping.
文摘China is by far the largest producer of tobacco products in the world. As a big tax source, tobacco industry brings about 10%of China's annual income.At present tobacco industry is under the administrative monopoly management in China. The nation's policy and management mechanism greatly influence the competition structure of tobbacco industry. Due to the double character of tobacco, the country generally imposes a high tax and limits total product output in order to control the tobacco market. Therefore, the price signal of tobacco market is distorted and to a large extent the competition of the industry is far from a free one. The cigarette production is in a multi element competition style within the nation's planning system. In other words, administrative monopoly and over competition exist simultaneously in China's tobacco industry. The country predetermines the output quota of each cigarette manufacturing enterprise and the actual production outputs of these enterprises could be adjusted through the quota trades among them. The competition in tobacco industry is mainly represented in 3 modes, i.e.production output competition based on quota trades, value added competition in producing and marketing, and the niche market competition based on product classification.
基金the Key Scientific Research Project from MOE & MOF of China "Knowledge-based Ship-designHyper Integrated Platform (KSHIP)"
文摘A network plan model of ship erection was established based on the network planning technology and the work-package breakdown system. The load-oriented production control method was introduced to build up a throughput diagram model thus it is possible to describe the ship erection process numerically. Based on the digitalized models some cases of production balance of ship erection were studied and three balance indexes were put forward, they are the load balance rate, the input manpower balance rate and the maximum gantry crane operating times. Such an analytic method based on the balance evaluation is the important foundation for digitization and intelligentization of shipyard production management.
文摘[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the yield potential of newly developed Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice parents and provide the theoretical basis for breeding of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Method] An incomplete diallel cross of four cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and four restorer lines was designed to investigate the combining ability for yield and yield components of Yinshui-type japonica hybrid rice. [Result] The variances of general combining ability (GCA) for yield traits were extremely significantly different. GCA variances of male parents were higher than that of female parents except for seed-setting rate. The variances of specific combining ability (SCA) for grain yield per plant, number of effective spikes and seed-setting rate were significantly or extremely significantly different. 139A and Wanlun 422 exhibited higher GCA effects. Most yield traits of these two parents be- longed to type II. Combinations 139AxWanlun 422 and Liaojingl0AxWanlun 422 had relatively high grain yield per plant and SCA effects. GCA effects of restorer lines and SCA effects of combinations greatly affected yield traits, while GCA ef- fects of CMS lines slightly affected yield traits. [Conclusion] In this study, restorer lines exhibited greater genetic differences and impact on yield traits than CMS lines; 139A and Wanlun 422 possessed higher application potential.
基金Supported by the State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China and Shanghai Fisheries University (Grant No. 200015).
文摘Hybrid tilapia weighing 7.71 g were reared in seawater at 24.0-29.0℃ for 8 weeks. The controls were fed to satiation twice a day throughout the experiment, whereas treatment groups were fed at 0.5%, 1.5% or 3.0% body weight per day for 4 weeks, and then to satiation for the remainder of the experiment. During the first 4-week period, there was a curvilinear relationship between growth rate and ration size. Fish fed 0.5% and 1.5% rations displayed compensatory growth response of 2 weeks duration during realimentation. The weight-adjusted growth rate of fish fed at 3% ration was not significantly different from that of the controls by the end of the experiment, when none of the treatment groups had caught up in body weight with the controls. Hyperphagia was observed for the first 2 weeks of realimenatation in fish previously fed at 3% ration, but persisted for the whole realimentation period in groups previously fed at 0.5% and 1.5% rations. None of the feed restricted groups showed improved digestibility, feed efficiency, or protein and energy retention efficiency.
基金Supported by the Youth Fund of Orient Science and Technology College,Hunan Agricultural University(14QNZ09)Cultivation Physiology Station of National Technical System in Rape Industrial,National Key Technology Support Program(2012BAD15B04,2010BAD01B01)+1 种基金Special Fund of Government in Hunan Province,National Natural Science Foundation of China(31071851,31101596,3132130)Open Fund Project of Innovation Platform in Colleges and Universities of Hunan Province(12K064)
文摘Field experiments were conducted during 2008-2010 to investigate the ef- fects of NPK fertilization on seed yield and economic benefit of a new hybrid cultivar of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) - Xiangzayou763, and to determine the optimum NPK ratio and dose in Hunan, China. The results showed that NPK ratio (1:0.50:0.50) with 180 kg/hm2 N, 90 kg/hm2 P2O5 and 90 kg/hm2 K20 was the optimum combination for the highest seed yield (2 231.13 kg/hm2) and economic benefit (9 816.97 Yuan/hm2), of which 1 641.23 Yuan/hm2 being set for fertilizer in- vestment (VCR=4.11). Besides, the effects of N, P and K fertilizers on seed yield and oil production of winter oilseed rape were not identical. N had the greatest ef- fect on plant growth of winter oilseed rape, followed by P and K. Total leaf number, green leaf number, leaf length and width, rhizome diameter, branch number, dry weight per plant and other agronomic characters in high N treatments were higher than those in low N treatments. By correlation and path analysis of yield components, the contribution rate to seed yield was found: effective silique number per plant〉seed number per silique〉l 000-seed weight.
基金supported by the Special Financial Support Program on Agriculture Research of Public Welfare Industry (Grant No. nyhyzx07-007-6)Special Fund for the Guangdong Modern Agriculture Industrial System Construction(Guangdong Agriculture 2009-380)+2 种基金Guangdong Agriculture Brainstorm Project ( Grant No. 2008B021000045, 2009B 020202003)the National Science and Technology Support Program (Grant No.2007BAD89B14)Agriculture Brainstorm Project of Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong province(Grant No.2010-Z-82-1)
文摘A macro scale survey was performed to investigate the content of soil available nitrogen (N) and its spatial distribution in the main vegetable production areas of the Pearl River Delta.Preliminary enrichment-deficient index of available N was then developed,which was a base for increasing fertilizer application efficiency and vegetable yield as well as for constructing soil testing and fertilizing formula.In general,most of the vegetable growth areas in Pearl River Delta were N-deficient or medium-N-deficient.There was 30%-62% increase in yield of Chinese cabbage on the N-deficient soil after application of N; when soil available N content was less than 145 mg/kg,the yield increased with application of N fertilizer at a rate of 60-70 kg/hm2.
基金Supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(2011AA10A101)Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest(201100)+1 种基金Rice Breeding Research Program of Sichuan Province during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period(YZGG2011-1)Innovation Skill Improvement Program of Department of Finance of Sichuan Province(2013QNJJ-021)~~
文摘[Objective] This study was conducted to analyze the difference in the general combining ability of yield traits of rice varieties in China and South Asia and to provide reference for the introduction and utilization of rice restorer lines from South Asia. [Method] A total of 111 hybrids were obtained by crossing 37 restorer lines in China and South Asia with Gang 46A, Lu 98A and Dexiang 074 following a NC II design. The combining ability of eight yield traits of the hybrids was analyzed in Luzhou and Deyang bases of Sichuan Province. [Result] In both bases, the eight yield traits had significant or extremely significant differences between the combina- tions, restorer lines, sterile lines or sterile line^restorer line, suggesting that there were d^erences in the genetic effects between the combinations or lines. The gen- eral combining ability (GCA) variances were all higher than special combining ability (SCA) variances in parents, which indicated that these traits were affected by gene additive effect. Restorer lines contributed more to F1 generation than male sterile liens in the eight yield traits. Nine restorer lines from India and Bangladesh were ranked in the top 15 lines with high GCA in the number of productive tillers in both bases. [Co.cl.siee] There was significant differences in the combining ability in the eight yield traits between the restorer lines from China and South Asia. The lines from India and Bangladesh were better than those from China in the GCA of the number of productive tillers, and the lines from China were better than those from India and Bangladesh in the GCA of other traits.
文摘An efficient synthesis of 2,6-pyridine dimethyl formate happened under the microwave irradiation is proposed. It is noteworthy that some factors influence the product yield such as time, temperature, ratio of reactants, and acidity which were discussed. The optimized quantity of 2,6-pyridine dimethyl acid is 10 mmol and methanol is 25 mmol. The yield is up to 95%-96% when using 2 mL 30% sulfuric acid. All products have been characterized by IR and 1H NMR.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21973009 to Jun Li)the Chongqing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(No.cstc2019jcyj-msxm X0087 to Jun Li)the support from the Talent Introduction Project of Hubei Polytechnic University(No.21xjz01R)。
文摘The hydrogen abstraction reaction of methanol with fluorine atoms can produce HF and CH_(3)O or CH_(2)OH radicals,which are important in the environment,combustion,radiation,and interstellar chemistry.In this work,the dynamics of this typical reaction is investigated by the quasi-classical trajectory method based on a recently developed globally accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface.Particularly,the vibrational state distributions of the polyatomic products CH_(3)O and CH_(2)OH are determined by using the normal mode analysis method.It is found that CH_(3)O and CH_(2)OH are dominantly populated in the ground state when the reactants are at the ground ro-vibrational state.The OH stretching mode,torsional mode,H_(2)CO out-of-plane bending mode and their combination bands in the CH_(2)OH product can be effectively excited once the OH stretching mode of the reactant CH_(3)OH is excited to the first vibrationally excited state.Most of the available energy flows into the HF vibrational energy and the translational energy in both channels,while the radical products,CH_(3)O or CH_(2)OH,receive a small amount of energy,consistent with experiment,which is an indication of its spectator nature.
文摘The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adopting improved maize varieties on crop yield in Uganda using propensity score matching (PSM) algorithms to control for hidden selection bias. The study employed cross-sectional household data collected in 2005/2006 by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) across the country. Data were divided into two parts; the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample (those that cultivated less than 5 acres or 2 Hectares of maize in 2004 and 2005). Then estimation was made of the difference in yields between the adopters and non adopters, the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) for the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample. Matching methods were used to control for hidden selection bias and the standardized bias measure was used to check for the quality of matching. The results indicate that adoption of improved maize seed had a robust positive and significant effect on yields obtained by farmers. The results were consistent for both the full and smallholder farmer sub-samples. Sensitivity analysis using Rosenbaum bounds indicated that the ATT results were fairly robust to hidden selection bias. That is, the results were not sensitive to unobserved selection bias. Therefore it is confidently asserted that the estimated average difference in maize yields between the adopters and non-adopters was due to the effect of planting improved maize seed.