Assessing Suitability of Irrigation Scheduling Decision Support Systems for Lowland Rice Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa—A Review

Irrigation in lowland rice production systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is mainly based on traditional surface irrigation methods with continuous flooding practices. This irrigation method ends up using a lot more water that would have otherwise been used to open more land and be used in other water-requiring sectors. Various studies suggest Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) as an alternative practice for water management that reduces water use without significantly affecting yield. However, this practice has not been well adopted by the farmers despite its significant benefits of reduced total water use. Improving the adoption of AWD using irrigation Decision Support Systems (DSSs) helps the farmer on two fronts;to know “how much water to apply” and “when to irrigate”, which is very critical in maximizing productivity. This paper reviews the applicability of DSSs using AWD in lowland rice production systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ethnopharmacological Assessment of Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Livestock Ailments by Resource-Limited Farmers in the Eastern Cape Province

Medicinal plants play a major role in meeting people’s medical and health needs, especially in developing countries. However, due to a lack of access to modern veterinary facilities, poor visibility of animal health personnel, and high prices of orthodox medicines, most farmers rely on traditional healers and the administration of medicinal plants to treat livestock ailments. The present study was conducted to document Ethnopharmacological knowledge of medicinal plants used to manage livestock ailments in three rural communities of the Eastern Cape. This study was carried out in three rural communities between July 2009 and February 2010. Data were collected by administering pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires and participative field observations. For the interviews, a sample of 48 knowledgeable respondents was purposively selected. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, determination of information consensus factor, and fidelity level. A total of 12 medicinal plants belonging to 9 families were used by local people to cure different ailments. A high number of medicinal plants were claimed by males compared to females. Roots and barks were the major plant parts used, and the least were leaves (27.3%). Six plants were used to treat diarrhea and fertility, five plants to treat wounds, and two plants to treat scabs. This study has shown that Eastern Cape flora is rich with various plants which could be used to replace orthodox drugs. Further studies are needed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations, biological activities, and toxicities and characterize the plant’s chemical compounds.

Analysis on Irrational Decision Making of Tobacco Family Farmers from the Perspective of Optimal Scale of Efficiency

The larger the difference between the willingness scale of tobacco family farmers and the optimal scale of efficiency,the greater the degree of irrationality,and the higher the decision making risk.With the aid of DEA model,this study calculated the optimal scale of efficiency of Guiyang tobacco family farms.Using the ratio of willingness scale and efficiency optimal scale,it measured the degree of irrationality of family farmers.In addition,with the help of multiple linear regression model,it explained the irrational decision making mechanism of family farmers.Finally,it made a portrait of farmers who tend to make irrational decisions,to find specific farmers and guide them in their production and operation,reduce the risk of planting scale decision making and stabilize the sustainable development of the tobacco industry.

Age Structure and Change Trend of Tobacco Farmers:A Case Study of Shashi Town,Liuyang City,Hunan Province

Taking the tobacco-growing area of Shashi Town,Liuyang City as the object,the number of registered,newly added and resigned tobacco farmers in each year,average age,number and proportion of tobacco farmers of different ages,number and proportion of tobacco farmers born in different eras,as well as planting scale and planting history of flue-cured tobacco in the last 10 years were analyzed statistically.The results showed that the number of tobacco farmers in Shashi Town showed a rapid decline trend from 2012 to 2018,while the average age continuously increased,and the average planting scale rose in a wave like way.From 2019 to 2021,the decline rate of the number of tobacco farmers slowed down,and the average planting scale continuously increased,while the aging of tobacco farmers accelerated.Meantime,the birth years of tobacco farmers were further concentrated in the 1960s,and they were mainly at the age of 50-59.The tobacco industry in Shashi Town of Liuyang City is facing the crisis of aging tobacco farmers and no successor of flue-cured tobacco planting,and it is predicted that the next 5-10 years will continue the change trend from 2019 to 2021.

A Decision Support System for Selection of Solar Power Plant Locations by Applying Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS: An Empirical Study

The objective of this research is to propose a decision support system for avoiding flood on solar power plant site selection. Methodologically, the geographic information system (GIS) is used to determine the optimum site for a solar power plant. It is intended to integrate the qualitative and quantitative variables based upon the adoption of the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. These methods are employed to unite the environmental aspects and social needs for electrical power systematically. Regarding a case study of the choice of a solar power plant site in Thailand, it demonstrates that the quantitative and qualitative criteria should be realized prior to analysis in the Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS model. The fuzzy AHP is employed to determine the weights of qualitative and quantitative criteria that can affect the selection process. The adoption of the fuzzy AHP is aimed to model the linguistic unclear, ambiguous, and incomplete knowledge. Additionally, TOPSIS, which is a ranking multi-criteria decision making method, is employed to rank the alternative sites based upon overall efficiency. The contribution of this paper lies in the evolution of a new approach that is flexible and practical to the decision maker, in providing the guidelines for the solar power plant site choices under stakeholder needs: at the same time, the desirable functions are achieved, in avoiding flood, reducing cost, time and causing less environmental impact. The new approach is assessed in the empirical study during major flooding in Thailand during the fourth quarter of 2011 to 2012. The result analysis and sensitivity analysis are also presented.

Study on the Ownership of Plant Genetic Resources on Farmers' Land

In order to protect Chinese farmers' sharing benefits and make legal preparation for accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, this paper analyzed differences between state sovereignty and ownership of genetic resources and between natural resources and plant genetic resources on farmers' land. Then, it studied the regulations of the United States, European Union and Indian on the ownership of plant genetic resources on farmers' land. On the basis of the analysis and study, the authors stated that the sovereignty of plant genetic resources can not replace the ownership system. The plant genetic resources on farmers' (community) land should be in the possession of farmers or communities, which should be confirmed by the State.

Reliability-Centered Maintenance-Based Maintenance Decision in New Nuclear Power Plants

Taking the project of introducing reliability-centered maintenance( RCM) into maintenance decision in an AP1000 nuclear power plant( NPP) under construction as the research object,an improved RCM methodology was proposed, and the application software and an RCM-based maintenance strategies management system were designed. In the pilot project,the RCMbased maintenance decision methodology had been applied to determining the maintenance strategies for two systems. Both the decision process and the results were described in this paper. The achievements of this project promoted the introduction and routinization of an advanced and effective maintenance decision mode in nuclear power field,which could provide valuable reference for new NPPs in China.

Farmers' Privilege under the Protection of New Plant Varieties

This paper studies farmers'privilege under the protection of new plant varieties,and points out that farmers'privilege is given to balance interests of plant breeders and relevant public.Based on this,it analyzes shortcomings of farmers'privilege regulations,and puts forward that it is required to improve farmers'privilege regulations in subjects,objects and contents of rights on the basis of learning from advanced legislation experience of foreign countries,and build the interest sharing mechanism between breeders and farmers.

C-Language Programming for Development of Conventional Water Treatment Plants Decision Support System

Water-Decision Support System (DSS) tools enhance decision-makings towards improved water supply in a given region. The rigours of manual design of the conventional water treatment plants are easily eliminated with the use of softwares as in the case of DSS. Therefore, this paper focuses on the development of a Water-DSS for design of treatment plant in Karkala Town, Udupi District of India. A four-decade population projection was made using the baseline data of 1971 till date. The manual computation for water demand, unit operations and adjoining facilities was carried out and later coded in C-programming language for development of a DSS for easier design and process selection. Data validation was done and results from the two approaches were compared. With the C-programming technique, a decision support tool for design and process selection of drinking water treatment plant using conventional method has been developed and named Water-DSS1. The designed tool is simple, accurate, flexible, efficient and universal, easily adaptable to any similar conventional treatment plant. Water-DSS1 is thus recommended for general use in ultimately alleviating water supply challenges.

Analysis of Nuclear Power Plant Fittings Stock Management and Design of a Decision Support System

Through analyzing the desired characteristics of fittings in a nuclear power plant, the representative random stock models are built, and forecast methods about the desired probability of fittings are discussed secondly, the design of the plant fittings stock decision support system (FSDSS) is given. Then the main features of this system and function modules are introduced, and the special emphasis on organization of a database and composition and memory of a model base is given.

Influential Factors on Economic Benefit of Rice Farmers

[Objective] This study was to provide references for the improvement of agricultural economic benefit by analyzing the main factors on influencing the economic benefit of rice farmer. [Method] Field survey was carried out on 300 rice farmers in Suizhou, Wuxue and Xiaogan of Hubei Province. Through the descriptive statistics to the production input and output data of the sample farmers, the econometric model was established to conduct empirical test on the economic benefit of rice farmer and the influential factors. The optimal production scale for rice farmer was also estimated, and through the theoretical and empirical analysis of the optimal production scale, countermeasures were put forward with the aim to promote economic benefit of rice farmer. [Result] The application of fertilizer affected the economic benefit most, followed by the planting area; food policy, farming population and average economic income per capita had significant effects on the economic benefit of rice production; economic benefit was beneficial for cost control. [Conclusion] This study had great practical and instructive significance for stabilizing national food production, ensuring regional and national food safety.

Farmers’Character and Behavior of Fertilizer Application-Evidence from a Survey of Xinxiang County,Henan Province,China

Agricultural chemical use has caused a public concern over environmental issue while decisions about applying chemicals are made by individual farmers. The critical decision-making role of farmers relative to agricultural chemical use creates a need for accurate information on their perceptions of various chemical-related hazards and the factors that may influence such judgments. Based on data collected from 177 land operators at Xinxiang County in Henan Province of China, an empirical analysis is conducted to examine the relationship between farmers＇ character and the behavior of fertilizer application. Study findings reveal that： the characteristics of household head and household, and the nature of farming management positively affect the amount of fertilizers applied; information on fertilizers and the knowledge about environmental impact of fertilizer application have negative impacts by contrast. To formulate effective pollution control policies at the farm level, it is imperative for policy-makers to convey information to producers by demonstration projects, technical assistance, and education programs. Under a changed political environment, some combination of education and economic incentives could be lower cost and more effective tools for achieving desired environmental conservative goals.

Causes of maize density loss in farmers’ fields in Northeast China

Increasing plant density is an effective and important way to reduce maize yield gaps in Northeast China. However, the fact is that a significant plant density gap exists between optimum plant density and actual plant density in farmers’ fields.To quantify the density gap between planned planting density and final harvest plant density(HPD), we studied 60 farmers’ fields on three types of soil for three crop seasons from 2015 to 2017 by measuring their plant-plant distance, actual seedlings density(ASD), final HPD and yield. We also explored the potential causes of density loss by digging the places where the seedlings were missing for two consecutive years in 2016–2017. Results show that the three-year average HPD in farmers’ fields was 59 699 plants ha^–1, which was significantly lower than the planned density, including both the machine setting density(MSD;67 962 plants ha^–1) and theoretical plant density(TPD;67 467 plants ha^–1). No significant difference was found in HPD between years and soil types. However, for MSD and TPD, the average value in 2015 was significantly higher than that in 2016 and 2017. No significant difference between soil types was observed. Furthermore,the results from 2016 till 2017 indicated that a lack of seeds in the soil, a failure to germinate due to low-quality seeds,and a lack of seedlings breaking out of the soil due to environmental problems explained approximately 60.88, 10.33 and 28.80% of density loss, respectively. According to our survey, 63% of farmers did not know their own TPD and HPD, and 54% of farmers did not know the density loss. Therefore, we argue that farmers’ limited knowledge of density and density loss is an urgent problem that needs to be solved in maize production. These observations will be useful for determining best management practices for maize production and for providing helpful suggestions for machine improvement.

Maximizing Land Use Efficiency by Intercropping Cowpea with Some Maize Cultivars under Different Maize Planting Geometries

Adjustment of planting geometry along with suitable maize cultivar can be a viable tool for maximizing land usage and net return. A two-year study was carried out at Serw Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, A.R.C., Domiate governorate, Egypt, during 2015 and 2016 seasons to evaluate intercropping cowpea with suitable maize cultivar and its planting geometry for maximizing land usage and net return. The treatments were the combinations between three maize cultivars (SC 30K08, TWC 310 and TWC 352) and three maize plant distributions (one plant/hill distanced at 25, 50 and 75 cm between hills, respectively). Ridge width with maize plant distribution formed maize planting geometry (25 cm × 140 cm, 50 cm × 140 cm and 75 cm × 140 cm). These treatments were compared in a split plot distribution in randomized complete block design with three replications. Maize cultivar SC 30K08 had the highest grain yield and its attributes compared with the other cultivars in both seasons. Also, maize planting geometry 25 cm × 140 cm resulted in the highest grain yield and its attributes compared with the other planting geometries in both seasons. Ear length, ear weight, 100-grain weight and grain yield/fad were affected significantly by maize cultivars × maize planting geometry. Intercropping cowpea with maize cultivar TWC 352 had the highest seed yield and its attributes compared with those intercropped with the other cultivars in both seasons. Also, maize planting geometry 75 cm × 140 cm resulted in the highest seed yield and its attributes through growing two cowpea rows between maize hills compared with the other maize planting geometries in both seasons. Number of pods/plant and seed yield/fad were affected significantly by maize cultivars × maize planting geometry. LER and LEC values of the intercrops were much greater than 1.00 and 0.25, respectively, for all the combinations indicating less land requirements of intercropping system than solid culture of both crops. Growing one row of maize cultivar TWC352 in both sides of bed 140 cm width with cowpea two rows in middle of the bed increased land productivity and net return compared with solid culture of maize.

Toward Modelling of Transformational Change Processes in Farm Decision-Making

In the coming decades, agricultural systems will have to adapt to tremendous challenges. Behavioral models have important potential to better understand and steer changes toward sustainability brought about by this context. Relying on a literature review, we distinguish incremental changes (extensions of what is already done) and transformational changes, which involve the reorientation of a considerable amount of farming activities. Transformational changes are particularly important in the context of global change. Existing integrated modelling frameworks based on behavioral theories are suited for incremental changes, but remain limited for transformational changes. Qualitative studies provide important insights on two key aspects of transformational changes, learning and social relations, but they have not been explicitly oriented toward computer modelling yet. Based on this literature and three seminal decision-making approaches, we propose a description of transformational change processes in farm decision-making, as a first step toward an implementation in agent-based models.

Land Use Change and Its Effect on Environment Based on Farmers’Behaviors: A Case Study in Agricultural Areas of Tibet, China

In the case study in Agricultural Area of Tibet, the process and characteristics of farmers' land use were surveyed by semi-structural interview questionnaire. By comparing the change of land covers and farmers' land decision in two periods, the spatial connection of them was obtained. And the relations among farmers' land decision, land use change and environment were examined by calculating emergy and value flow. The results show that: hunting the maximal profits is the primary aim of farmers' land decision; farmers' land decision is incompatible with sustainable land use presently; farmers' land decision and land cover can be embodied spatially by each other; the change of farmers' land decision can be monitored by observing the change of land cover, and the sustainability of farmers' land decision can be appraised by calculating emergy and value flow.

A Little Plant with Big Stories

An entrepreneurial farmer has made great efforts in exploring a new path to green growth and common prosperity through high-quality development of the camellia oleifera industry while pursuing the national strategy of rural revitalization.

基于装置运行平稳性的石油化工安全管理策略研究

为了找出并评价石化装置支配性风险因素,实现安全生产风险源头控制和管理,满足石化装置安全生产风险控制的高效性要求,通过建立石化装置事故风险影响模型,运用决策试验与评估实验室方法(DEMATEL)从“现代事故因果连锁理论”视角分析发现人、机(物)等风险因素都受管理因素支配。进而,基于工艺稳定性、工艺稳定性修正、非计划停工3个指标建立石化装置平稳性模型,对装置运行平稳率进行追踪统计,并通过实例对该模型进行了分析和验证。结果表明:该石化装置运行平稳性模型可以量化追踪事故风险支配性因素的控制效果,可展示石化装置不同阶段下的风险特点,可作为装置事故风险预警指标和安全管理绩效指标,可提高装置的安全管理水平。

“三农”领域高校智库建设现状及发展路径探析

“三农”领域高校智库在“三农”问题分析、决策拟定及政策工具弥补纠正等方面发挥着重要作用。为促进中国“三农”领域学术研究与智库研究有效对接,分析相关高校智库建设现状,总结其发展行为、运行机制、成果水平等方面及特点。研究发现,中国“三农”领域的高校智库建设主要依托一批专业化的研究团队和学术机构,在“三农”领域智库中数量占比最高且呈现快速增长趋势,并表现出强烈的地域性特征,在推动农业产业高质量发展方面发挥重要作用;但面临着服务乡村振兴的激励有限、协同合作能力有限、农业生产活动复杂性与农村调查公益性、成果实效水平不高和政策转化力度不够、资源及资金投入缺乏多元化与灵活性等困境。针对此,提出发挥涉农学科优势、推动成果评价制度改革、营造良好生态体系、畅通资政服务渠道、打造政产学研联盟共同体、构建“旋转门”机制、与新农村发展研究院协同建设等对策建议,以期对“三农”领域高校智库体系的建设与转型升级有所裨益,更好地满足新时期全面推进乡村振兴战略的智力需求。

南疆阿拉尔垦区密植棉花株高模拟研究

【目的】探讨新疆阿拉尔垦区密植条件下不同模型对棉花株高的预测效果。【方法】以株型差异较大的新陆中81号和塔河2号为试验材料,在阿拉尔垦区16000株·hm^(-2)密植条件下开展大田试验,用Python语言建立株高生长的逻辑斯谛(logistic)、冈珀茨(Gompertz)、理查德(Richards)方程和决策树机器学习预测模型,并对模型的预测精度进行分析。【结果】Logistic、Gompertz和Richards模型中,新陆中81号株高的均方根误差(root mean square error,RMSE)分别为8.38%、7.49%和7.52%,平均绝对误差(mean absolute error,MAE)分别为6.80%、5.79%和5.82%;塔河2号株高的RMSE分别为6.09%、4.77%和4.85%,MAE分别为4.52%、3.34%和3.36%。决策树机器学习方法中,新陆中81号与塔河2号株高的RMSE分别为6.91%和3.27%,MAE分别为5.04%和2.16%。Logistic、Gompertz和Richards生长方程以及决策树机器学习方法均能较好地预测密植条件下棉花株高的生长,但在预测精度上决策树机器学习方法总体上优于生长方程。【结论】基于决策树的机器学习方法不需要用数理统计知识解释模型,训练模型需要的数据量也较少,模拟精度更高,在模拟棉花株高方面有一定优势,是对传统生长方程的有益补充。