A multi-objective fuzzy optimization model for cropping structure and water resources and its method

Cropping structure has a close relationship with the optimal allocation of agricultural water resources. Based on the analysis of the relationship between agricultural water resources and sustainable development, this paper presents a multi objective fuzzy optimization model for cropping structure and water allocation, which overcomes the shortcoming of current models that only considered the economic objective,and ignored the social and environmental objectives. During the process, a new method named fuzzy deciding weight is developed to decide the objective weight. A case study shows that the model is reliable, the method is simple and objective, and the results are reasonable. This model is useful for agricultural management and sustainable development.

Spatiotemporal changes of cropping structure in China during 1980–2011

Understanding the spatial and temporal variations of cropping systems is very important for agricultural policymaking and food security assessment, and can provide a basis for national policies regarding cropping systems adjustment and agricultural adaptation to climate change. With rapid development of society and the economy, China＇s cropping structure has profoundly changed since the reform and opening up in 1978, but there has been no systematic investigation of the pattern, process and characteristics of these changes. In view of this, a crop area database for China was acquired and compiled at the county level for the period 1980-2011, and linear regression and spatial analysis were employed to investigate the cropping structure type and cropping proportion changes at the national level. This research had three main findings： （1） China＇s cropping structure has undergone significant changes since 2002; the richness of cropping structure types has increased significantly and a diversified-type structure has gradually replaced the single types. The single-crop types--dominated by rice, wheat or maize--declined, affected by the combination of these three major food crops in mixed plantings and conversion of some of their planting area to other crops. （2） In the top 10 types, 82.7% of the county-level cropping structure was rice, wheat, maize and their combinations in 1980; however, this proportion decreased to 50.7% in 2011, indicating an adjustment period of China＇s cropping structure. Spatial analysis showed that 63.8% of China＇s counties adjusted their cropping structure, with the general change toward reducing the main food types and increasing fruits and vegetables during 1980-2011. （3） At the national level, the grain-planting pattern dominated by rice shifted to coexistence of rice, wheat and maize during this period. There were significant decreasing trends for 47% of rice, 61% of wheat and 29.6% of maize cropping counties. The pattern of maize cropping had the most significant change, with the maize proportion decreasing in the zone from north- eastern to southwestern China during this period. Cities and their surroundings were hotspots for cropping structural adjustment. Urbanization has significantly changed cropping structure, with most of these regions showing rapid increases in the proportion of fruit and vegetables.Our research suggests that the policy of cropping structural adjustment needs to consider geographical characteristics and spatial planning of cropping systems. In this way, the future direction of cropping structural adjustment wilt be appropriate and scientifically based, such as where there is a need to maintain or increase rice and wheat cropping, increase soybean and decrease maize, and increase the supply of fruit and vegetables.

Wheat, maize and sunflower cropping systems selectively influence bacteria community structure and diversity in their and succeeding crop's rhizosphere

supported by the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest in China （201103001）

Impact of Crop Rotation on Pathotype and Genetic Structure of Phythophthora sojae in Fields

To estimate the impact of crop rotation on the pathotype and genetic structure of Phythophthora sojae in fields, 372 isolates of P. sojae were obtained from long-term localisation experimental fields in Heilongjiang Province of China. The hypocotyl inoculation method was used to characterize the virulence of P. sojae on 13 differential cultivars, and the amplified fragment length polymorphism（AFLP） technique was used to analyze difference in the genetic structure of P. sojae. The results indicated that an abundant diversity of genetic structures and pathotypes of P. sojae, a more uniform distribution of pathotypes and less dominance of pathotypes occurred in corn-soybean and wheat-soybean rotation fields than in a continuous soybean mono-cropping field. These findings suggested that P. sojae did not easily become the dominant race in rotation fields, which maintain disease resistance in soybean varieties. Therefore, the results of this study suggested that Phytophthora stem and root rot of soybeans could be effectively controlled by rotating soybeans with non-host crops of corn and wheat.

Effects of Tetcyclacis on Plant Growth and Development in Triticale cv. Lasko

Experiments with tetcyclacis applied as a seed-dressing carried out with triticale cv. lasko in pots in the glasshouse and in hand-sown plots in the field. The results showed that tetcyclacis significantly delayed seedling emergence and inhibited the elongating growth in plant seedling stage, but not affected the growth and development of the adult plant during the late stage of stem extension and the stage of grain expansion. No significant difference was found in fertile stem number, grain quality and yield between the treated plants with tetcyclacis and control.

Adaptation to a Warming-Drying Trend Through Cropping System Adjustment over Three Decades:A Case Study in the Northern Agro-Pastural Ecotone of China

Long-term field monitoring data and historical crop data are useful to assess the impacts of climate change and to manage cropping systems. The objectives of this study are to understand the cropping system response to a warming-drying trend in the northern agro-pastural ecotone （NAE） of China and to document how farmers can adapt to the warming-drying trend by changing cropping system structure and adjusting planting date. The results indicate that a significant warming-drying trend existed in the NAE from 1980 to 2009, and this trend significantly decreased crop （spring wheat, naked oat, and potato） yields. Furthermore, the yield decreased by 16.2%-28.4% with a 1℃ increase in maximum temperature and decreased by 6.6%-11.8% with a 10% decrease in precipitation. Considering food security, water use efficiency, and water ecological adaptability in the semi-arid NAE, cropping system structure adjustment （e.g., a shift from wheat to potato as the predominant crop） and planting date adaptation （e.g., a delay in crop planting date） can offset the impact of the warming-drying trend in the NAE. Based on the successful offsetting of the impact of the warming-drying trend in the NAE, we conclude that farmers can reduce the negative effects of climate change and minimize the risk of crop failure by adapting their cropping system structure at the farming level.

Integrated uncertain models for runoff forecasting and crop planting structure optimization of the Shiyang River Basin,north-west China

To improve the accuracy of runoff forecasting,an uncertain multiple linear regression(UMLR) model is presented in this study. The proposed model avoids the transfer of random error generated in the independent variable to the dependent variable, as this affects prediction accuracy. On this basis, an inexact two-stage stochastic programming(ITSP) model is used for crop planting structure optimization(CPSO) with the inputs that are interval flow values under different probabilities obtained from the UMLR model. The developed system, in which the UMLR model for runoff forecasting and the ITSP model for crop planting structure optimization are integrated, is applied to a real case study. The aim of the developed system is to optimize crops planting area with limited available water resources base on the downstream runoff forecasting in order to obtain the maximum system benefit in the future. The solution obtained can demonstrate the feasibility and suitability of the developed system, and help decision makers to identify reasonable crop planting structure under multiple uncertainties.

Uncertain and multi-objective programming models for crop planting structure optimization

Crop planting structure optimization is a signi ficant way to increase agricultural economic bene fits and improve agricultural water management. The complexities of fluctuating stream conditions, varying economic pro fits, and uncertainties and errors in estimated modeling parameters, as well as the complexities among economic, social, natural resources and environmental aspects, have led to the necessity of developing optimization models for crop planting structure which consider uncertainty and multi-objectives elements. In this study,three single-objective programming models under uncertainty for crop planting structure optimization were developed, including an interval linear programming model, an inexact fuzzy chance-constrained programming(IFCCP) model and an inexact fuzzy linear programming(IFLP) model. Each of the three models takes grayness into account. Moreover, the IFCCP model considers fuzzy uncertainty of parameters/variables and stochastic characteristics of constraints, while the IFLP model takes into account the fuzzy uncertainty of both constraints and objective functions. To satisfy the sustainable development of crop planting structure planning, a fuzzy-optimizationtheory-based fuzzy linear multi-objective programming model was developed, which is capable of re flecting both uncertainties and multi-objective. In addition, a multiobjective fractional programming model for crop structure optimization was also developed to quantitatively express the multi-objective in one optimization model with the numerator representing maximum economic bene fits and the denominator representing minimum crop planting area allocation. These models better re flect actual situations,considering the uncertainties and multi-objectives of crop planting structure optimization systems. The five models developed were then applied to a real case study in MinqinCounty, north-west China. The advantages, the applicable conditions and the solution methods of each model are expounded. Detailed analysis of results of each model and their comparisons demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of the models developed, therefore decision makers can choose the appropriate model when making decisions.

Carbon footprint of crop production in Heilongjiang land reclamation area,China

In the context of global warming,agriculture,as the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after industry,had attracted widespread attention from all walks of life to reduce agricultural emissions.The carbon footprint of the planting production system of the Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Area(HLRA),an important commodity grain base in China,was evaluated and analyzed in this paper.On this basis,this paper sought feasible strategies to reduce carbon emissions from two aspects:agronomic practices and cropping structure adjustment,which were particularly crucial to promote the low-carbon and sustainable development of agriculture in HLRA.Therefore,using the accounting methods in IPCC and Low Carbon Development and Guidelines for the Preparation of Provincial Greenhouse Gas Inventories compiled by the Chinese government,relevant data were collected from 2000 to 2017 in HLRA and accounted for the carbon emissions of the planting production system in four aspects:carbon emissions from agricultural inputs,N_(2)O emissions from managed soils,CH_(4) emissions from rice cultivation and straw burning emissions.Then carbon uptake consisted of seeds and straws.Finally,with farmers'incomes were set as the objective function and carbon emissions per unit of gross production value was set as the constraint,this paper simulated and optimized the cropping structure in HLRA.The results showed that there was a“stable-growing-declining”trend in the total carbon emissions and carbon uptake of the planting production system in HLRA,with total carbon emissions of 2.84×10^(10) kg and total carbon uptake of 7.49×10^(10) kg in 2017.In the past 18 years,carbon emissions per unit area and carbon emissions per unit of gross production had both shown a decreasing trend.To achieve further efficiency gains and emission reductions in the planting production system,it was recommended that the local governments strengthen the comprehensive use of straw resources,optimize irrigation and fertilization techniques,and adjust the cropping structure,i.e.,increase the planting area of maize and soybeans and reduce the planting area of rice,and increase subsidies to protect the economic returns of planters.