Fuzzy Logic Based Group Maturity Rating for Software Performance Prediction

Driven by market requirements, software services organizations have adopted various software engineering process models （such as capability maturity model （CMM）, capability maturity model integration （CMMI）, ISO 9001：2000, etc.） and practice of the project management concepts defined in the project management body of knowledge. While this has definitely helped organizations to bring some methods into the software development madness, there always exists a demand for comparing various groups within the organization in terms of the practice of these defined process models. Even though there exist many metrics for comparison, considering the variety of projects in terms of technology, life cycle, etc., finding a single metric that caters to this is a difficult task. This paper proposes a model for arriving at a rating on group maturity within the organization. Considering the linguistic or imprecise and uncertain nature of software measurements, fuzzy logic approach is used for the proposed model. Without the barriers like technology or life cycle difference, the proposed model helps the organization to compare different groups within it with reasonable precision.

Stability of growth periods traits for soybean cultivars across multiple locations

The growth periods（GPs, from planting/emergence to reproductive stage 8（R8） of soybean cultivars vary in different ecological regions, especially in China with a very complex soybean cropping system. In this study, a 3-yr experimental study was undertaken in three geographical locations of China from 2008 to 2010, including the Northeast（40.66-45.85°N）, Huang-Huai（34.75-38.04°N） and southern（22.82-30.60°N） eco-regions with about 250 accessions in each region to clarify the classification of maturity group（MG） and identify the cultivars with stable GP to increase the knowledge about the GP distribution of soybean cultivars in China. GPs of soybean cultivars in different eco-regions were significant different with a gradual decrease from 115-125 d in the Northeast part to the 85-100 d in the southern part of China. The geographical location was the major factor for GP of cultivars from the Northeast, while the year of planting was the major factor affecting the stability of GPs in Huang-Huai summer and southern summer soybean. AMMI2（additive main effects and multiplicativeinteraction）-Biplot analysis showed that the GPs of soybean cultivars from the Northeast eco-region have a comparatively satisfactory environmental stability. Moreover, soybean cultivars with moderate GP/MG and stable environment adaptability in different eco-regions were identified based on the linear regression and AMMI analysis, which was important for the accurate classification of soybean MGs in future. Taken together, our results reflected the genetic diversity, geographical distribution and environmental stability of the Chinese soybean GP trait. Soybean cultivars with stable GP for various Chinese eco-regions would be beneficial for Chinese soybean genetic improvement, varietal introduction, exchange, and soybean breeding program for wide adaptability.

Evaluation of Soybean Cultivars of Contrasting Cycles according to the Level of Investment in Fertilization

The objective of the present study was to characterize the duration of the phenological stages, the agronomic characteristics and grain yield in soybean cultivars with contrasting cycles and indeterminate growth type, submitted to different fertilization investment environments under no-tillage system in the central region of Minas Gerais. The work was conducted under field conditions, in an experimental area of Embrapa Maize and Sorghum, in Sete Lagoas, MG, in the harvest of 2015/2016. Ten soybean cultivars with different relative maturity groups (RMG) were studied, representing almost all RMG materials currently sown in Minas Gerais, in two environments with different levels of fertilizer investment. The variables were submitted to analysis of joint variance, in order to verify the existence of interaction between cultivars and investment in fertilization environments. Fertilizer investment levels influence grain yield of soybean cultivars of contrasting cycles. The higher height of the soybean plants implies higher lodging and lower grain yield. This situation is aggravated by the greater investment in fertilization. The difference between the cycles of the cultivars is in the duration of the vegetative stages, being greater in the later cultivars.