Effects of Tillage Depth on Nutrients and Microbial Communities in Tobacco-Planting Soil

The implementation of appropriate tillage practices is of great significance for agricultural production. However, the effects of different tillage depths on soil nutrients content and microbial communities in tobacco-planting soils are still lacking systematic research. In this study, three different tillage depths of 15 cm (T1), 20 cm (T2), and 30 cm (T3) were set up for field experiments in Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, to explore the effects of tillage depth on tobacco-planting soil nutrients and bacterial and fungal communities based on 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing and figure out the key factors affecting soil microbial communities. The results showed that T2 and T3 increased the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and available potassium in tobacco-planting soil, and increased the diversity of bacterial communities compared with T1. There was no significant difference in the structure of bacterial and fungal communities in different tillage depth treatments, but some dominant genera were significantly enriched in T2 and T3. Desulfobacter, Setophoma, Humicola, and Acremonium were significantly enriched in T2. Chthonomonas and Fusarium were significantly enriched in T3. These genera favor the decomposition of organic matter and the cycling of nutrients, and control soil pests and diseases. Redundancy analysis indicated that TP and AK were the key factors influencing the dominant genera of bacteria and fungi. This study provides a scientific basis for the selection of soil tillage depth for tobacco production in this region.

Growth and yield of Solanum khasianum in Pinus roxburghii forest based silvi-medicinal system in mid hills of Indian Himalaya

Background：In mid hills of Western Himalayas,Himachal Pradesh India,growth,yield and economics of Solanum khasianum as a potential medicinal herb under Pinus roxburghii（Chir pine） plantation has been studied for two consecutive years to assess the performance of Solanum khasianum in undercanopy of Pinus roxburghii for developing Solanum khasianum and Pinus roxburghii based innovative silvi-medicinal system.Methods：Growth parameters such as plant height,number of branches per plant and leaf area index followed by yield were estimated after Solanum khasianum was grown on three topographical aspects as;Northern,North- western and Western at a spacing of 45 cm x 45 cm,followed by three tillage depths as;minimum（0 cm）,medium（up to 10 cm）and deep tillage（up to 15 cm）,in open and below canopy conditions treatment.The study was conducted to explore the possibility of using Solanum khasianum based silvi-medicinal system to utilize the below canopy of Chir pine forest for enhancing the productivity of forests besides the conservation of the medicinal herb.Results：The growth parameters such as plant height,number of branches per plant and leaf area index were nonsignificantly affected by topographical aspects and tillage practices,both below canopy and open conditions except fresh weight and dry weight of berries during harvesting stage.The maximum yield（0.61 t·ha^（-1）） was observed on Western aspect in open conditions as compared to below canopy of Chir pine.The highest gross returns were observed for the crop cultivated on Western aspect under deep tillage in open conditions than other aspect and tillage combinations.However the positive net returns from the crops raised in below canopy of Chir pine indicates its possible economic viability under agroforestry system as the gross returns was higher than the cost of cultivation.Conclusion：Solanum khasianum when grown in below canopy of Pinus roxburghii,its growth and yield indicated positive net returns.Solanum khasianum and Pinus roxburghii based silvi-medicinal system has the potential to enhance the overall productivity of Chir pine forest.This silvi-medicinal system gives scope for utilizing floor Chir pine forests for growth and production of Solanum khasianum beside conservation of the medicinal herb.

Design and experiment of fuzzy-PID based tillage depth control system for a self-propelled electric tiller

The research on the self-propelled electric tiller is vital for further improving the quality and efficiency of greenhouse rotary tillage operation,reducing the work intensity and operation risk of operators,and achieving environmentally friendly characteristics.Most of the existing self-propelled tillers rely on manual adjustment of the tillage depth.Moreover,the consistency and stability of the tillage depth are difficult to guarantee.In this study,the automatic control method of tillage depth of a self-propelled electric tiller is investigated.A method of applying the fuzzy PID(Proportional Integral Derivative)control method to the tillage depth adjustment system of a tiller is also proposed to realize automatic control.The system uses the real-time detection of the resistance sensor and angle sensor.The controller runs the electronically controlled hydraulic system to adjust the force and position comprehensively.The fuzzy control algorithm is used in the operation error control to realize the double-parameter control of the tillage depth.The simulation and experimental verification of the system are conducted.Results show that the control system applying fuzzy PID can improve the soil breaking rate by 3%in the operation process based on reducing the stability variation of tillage depth by 24%.The control strategy can reach the set value of tillage depth quickly and accurately.It can also meet the requirement of tillage depth consistency during the operation.

Characteristics of greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddy fields in South Korea under climate change scenario RCP-8.5 using the DNDC model

Understanding the greenhouse gas(GHG)emission from rice paddy fields is essential to come up with appropriate countermeasure in response to global warming.However,GHG emissions from paddy fields in South Korea are not well characterized.The objectives of this study were to estimate the carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and methane(CH_(4))emissions from rice paddy fields in South Korea,under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5(RCP-8.5)climate change scenario using the DNDC(i.e.,DeNitrification-DeComposition)model at 1-km^(2)resolution.The performance of the model was verified with field data collected using a closed chamber,which supports the application of the model to South Korea.Both the model predictions and field measurements showed that most(>95%)GHG emissions occur in the cropping period,between April and October.As a baseline(assuming no climate change),the national sums of the CO_(2)and CH_(4)emissions for the 2020 s and 2090 s were estimated to be 5.8×10^(6)and 6.0×10^(6)t CO_(2)-equivalents(CO_(2)-eq)year^(-1)for CO_(2)and 6.4×10^(6)and 6.6×10^(6)t CO_(2)-eq year^(-1)for CH_(4),respectively,indicating no significant changes over 80 years.Under RCP-8.5,in the 2090 s,CH_(4)emissions were predicted to increase by 10.7×10^(6)and 14.9×10^(6)t CO_(2)-eq year^(-1),for a 10-or 30-cm tillage depth,respectively.However,the CO_(2)emissions gradually decreased with rising temperatures,due to reduced root respiration.Deep tillage increased the emissions of both GHGs,with a more pronounced effect for CH_(4)than CO_(2).Intermittent drainage in the middle of the cropping season can attenuate the CH_(4)emissions from paddy fields.The findings of this work will aid in developing nationwide policies on agricultural land management in the face of climate change.