In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Simulationsmodell zur Bestimmung der Beregnungsmenge vorgestellt, um das Absinken der Temperatur unter 0°C eines mit einer Plastikfolie abgedeckten Bodens möglichst zu verhindern. Es wurden numerische Berechnungen für den nackten Boden und für den mit Folie abgedeckten Boden mit und ohne gleichzeitiger Frostschutzberegnung durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen z.B., daß die Bodenoberflächentemperatur bei einer Beregnung von nur 75% der Sollvorgabe relativ stark absinkt. Dieses liegt an der relativ großen Gefrierwärme von Wasser. Ein nur mit Folie abgedeckter Boden schützt nur in den wenigsten Fällen vor Bodenfrost. Die Simulationsergebnisse stimmen gut mit den gemessenen überein. / A model to determine the minimum amount of water required to hold the soil temperature above 0°C under a plastic mulch is presented. Numerical experiments with and without consideration of the mulch foil, with and without sprinkling of the mulch foil were performed. The results substantiate that sprinkling par example at 75% of the usual used rate of water is sufficient to avoid that the soil temperature falls below 0°C because of the relative big freezing energy of water and that mulching alone cannot prevent the soil temperature from decreasing below that value. The model results are in good agreement with observations.

In drought-prone arid and semi-arid areas, limited plant available water exerts a tremendous negative effect on crop production, leading to undesirable low crop productivity, untold food insecurity, and never-ending poverty. In-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH or In-field RWH) is specifically designed to trap rainfall within the field and optimise its use to benefit crop yield and quality, and improve water use efficiency (WUE) in these regions. Two RWH-crop field experiments were established in the semi-arid area of the Hatfield Experimental Farm, University of Pretoria, South Africa. The first RWH-potato experiment was conducted during the 2009/2010 growing season while the second RWH-Swiss chard experiment was carried out during the 2010/2011 growing season. Three cropping systems were involved: (1) conventional tillage (CT), (2) tied-ridges (TR), and (3) IRWH with three different design ratios of runoff area to cropping area (1:1, 2:1 & 3:1). The runoff area of each design ratio was either bare (B) or plastic-covered (P) and this resulted in six IRWH treatments. Therefore, there were a total of eight treatments: CT, TR, 1:1B, 1:1P, 2:1B, 2:1P, 3:1B and 3:1P. For both growing seasons, the total plot area yields and WUEs of TR and CT were in general higher than those of the IRWH treatments. This is because TR and CT had more plants per plot than the IRWH treatments and the rainfall recorded for the specific seasons were sufficient, so there was little advantage in collecting/harvesting additional water. In terms of yields and WUEs expressed on the net cropped area, the IRWH treatments had higher yields and WUE than CT and TR because they captured more runoff than the latter treatments. Field trials are expensive, laborious and time consuming, therefore models were developed to predict potential runoff and crop growth and yield of different RWH techniques or design ratios. During the current investigation, runoff models such as the linear regression, curve number (CN) and Morin and Cluff (1980) models were used to describe and simulate runoff generation from this ecotope. The empirical rainfall-runoff linear regression model indicated that runoff efficiency declined as runoff length increased. The statistics revealed that the CN and Morin and Cluff (1980) models simulated runoff very well. Moreover, the use of a generic crop growth Soil Water Balance model (SWB) showed potential to simulate crop growth and yield for different RWH techniques and design ratios. During the present study, the SWB model was modified by incorporating linear runoff simulation models in order to predict the soil water balance and crop yield under different RWH design scenarios. Field data collected on the study ecotope contributed to the parameterization and calibration of the SWB model for the crops involved. The SWB model was in general, successfully calibrated for the potato crop, while the calibration for the Swiss chard crop was generally not as successful, most probably because of the continuous growing and harvesting system followed (approach for pastures). The scenario simulation results for potato suggested that for the study ecotope, if land is limiting, CT, TR and smaller design ratios (1:1) are the best options in terms of yield per total plot area. However, if land is not limiting, larger design ratios (2:1 and 3:1) are better options, according to the yields per net cropped area outcomes. The SWB model shows promise as a useful tool to assist in the selection of the best RWH strategy and the ideal planting date under specific conditions with minimal input requirements. However, there is a need to upgrade it to a 2D SWB model for better accuracy under a range of conditions. / Dissertation (MScAgric)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Plant Production and Soil Science / MScAgric / Unrestricted

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Simulationsmodell zur Bestimmung der Beregnungsmenge vorgestellt, um das Absinken der Temperatur unter 0°C eines mit einer Plastikfolie abgedeckten Bodens möglichst zu verhindern. Es wurden numerische Berechnungen für den nackten Boden und für den mit Folie abgedeckten Boden mit und ohne gleichzeitiger Frostschutzberegnung durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen z.B., daß die Bodenoberflächentemperatur bei einer Beregnung von nur 75% der Sollvorgabe relativ stark absinkt. Dieses liegt an der relativ großen Gefrierwärme von Wasser. Ein nur mit Folie abgedeckter Boden schützt nur in den wenigsten Fällen vor Bodenfrost. Die Simulationsergebnisse stimmen gut mit den gemessenen überein. / A model to determine the minimum amount of water required to hold the soil temperature above 0°C under a plastic mulch is presented. Numerical experiments with and without consideration of the mulch foil, with and without sprinkling of the mulch foil were performed. The results substantiate that sprinkling par example at 75% of the usual used rate of water is sufficient to avoid that the soil temperature falls below 0°C because of the relative big freezing energy of water and that mulching alone cannot prevent the soil temperature from decreasing below that value. The model results are in good agreement with observations.

Weeds and soil-borne diseases can cause large yield losses in field-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production. Techniques have been developed to reduce soil-based problems. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of cover crops, soil steaming, and plastic mulch to reduce weed and disease pressure in field-grown tomatoes. Four cover crop treatments were grown in the fall and winter before spring planting. Soils were steamed to a target temperature of 71.1 °C for 0, 5, or 20 minutes. Plastic mulch was also used on half of the rows. Yield, weed densities, and disease incidence were recorded. Reduced flowering time and stringent flowering requirements may reduce the ability to conduct crosses in many plants. Many factors control flowering. Terminal Flowering Locus 1 (TFL1) inhibits flower development. In this study, we attempted to transiently downregulate TFL1 via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Antirrhinum, Penstemon, Petunia, Rosa, and Rudbeckia.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O óleo essencial de gerânio (Pelargonium graveolens L´Her) é amplamente usado em sabonetes, nas indústrias de perfumaria e cosméticos. Há um déficit na produção do óleo essencial de gerânio pelo mundo e assim tornou-se necessário o investimento em pesquisas que garantam o aumento da produção mundial de gerânio. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi de avaliar a influência do uso de diferentes cores de filme plástico, tipos de adubação, espaçamentos de plantio e intervalos de colheita na biomassa e no óleo essencial de gerânio. Dois ensaios foram conduzidos. No primeiro ensaio avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes cores de filme plástico e tipos de adubação e no segundo avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes espaçamentos de plantio e intervalos de colheita. As variáveis avaliadas foram: sobrevivência, altura de plantas, diâmetro de copas, massa fresca e seca de folhas e caules, teor e rendimento de óleo essencial e os teores dos seguintes compostos majoritários: geraniol, citronelol, formiato de citronelil, linalol, 6,9-guaiadieno, formiato de geranila, geranial e iso-mentona. No primeiro ensaio a ausência de filme plástico resultou na redução significativa para praticamente todas as variáveis e o uso de esterco bovino, isolado ou combinado com NPK (3-12-6), resultou em valores mais elevados em boa parte das variáveis. Para o cultivo de gerânio pode se recomendar o uso de filme plástico, preferencialmente de cor preta que é mais barato, espaçamento de plantio de 50 x 50 cm e os intervalos de colheita da parte aérea de oito semanas.

China's Minqin Oasis once welcomed traders along the ancient Silk Road with rivers, lakes, and lush forests, yet today the region's farmland and grassland are increasingly being engulfed by the sands of the Gobi Desert. The severity of this incremental catastrophe for a declining population of 300,000 residents has brought forth a host of recent water policies to include agronomic water conservation through plastic mulch use, computerized regulation and pricing of groundwater, and water diversions from the Yellow River. This study uses a multi-disciplinary and mixed methods approach to better understand farmer perspectives on why they implement certain water and land use practices in agriculture. The world's farmers currently use the majority of the world's available freshwater and arable land. Modern agriculture and its continued intensification also lead to increases in petroleum based inputs such as agrochemicals and agricultural plastics (plasticulture). Despite the large of impact of the decisions made by the world's farmers on natural resources, little research to date has sought to better understand farmers' perceptions and decision-making processes. Plastic film mulch is a technology that has existed since the 1940's and it has been used in places such as rural China for over five decades. This technology conserves a considerable amount of irrigation water and it increases harvests, however, use of plastic for mulch causes waste disposal problems and is an expenditure of petroleum through plastic manufacturing. Without a fundamental understanding of why farmers perceive plastic mulch to be valuable to their households and communities, we may not fully grasp why its global application continues to increase year after year. Moreover, a focused study of plastic mulch use at the local level may also allow researchers and entrepreneurs to develop a suitable alternative mulch that does not consume non-renewable resources or result in detrimental plastic waste after its utility has been exhausted. This study uses household level interviews, surveys, and participant observation to better understand why Minqin County farmers in rural China continue to use plastic mulch and how it may influence their standard of living. / Graduation date: 2013

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MariaEHC_TESE.pdf: 1170432 bytes, checksum: 23f945c77b271c8ad86c1d93e1bf0f2c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Three experiments were carried out in the didactic orchard of the Departamento de Ciências Vegetais of Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), located in Mossoró-RN. The experiments aimed at assessing the interference of weeds on the soil temperature, on the growth of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and on the efficiency as to the use of water in the referred to type of crop when submitted to weed handling strategies within the systems no-trillage and conventional planting. The trials were assembled in a split-plot scheme, distributed within the experimental design , in randomized blocks with four replications. Within the plots, two planting systems were assessed (no-trillage and conventional), and, within the subplots, three weed handling strategies soil covering with black polyethylene film, with regular weeds, and with no weeds, were assessed. Within each subplot, sensors were installed at a depth of 5 cm for the purpose of measuring the soil temperature. Data were collected every 10 minutes and stored in dataloggers. As for the first experiment, the collected data led to the determination the temperature variation throughout the day from 20 to 30 days after transplanting (DAT), the average maximum and minimum temperatures every 5 days, and the daily temperature range during the crop cycle. On the 60th and 147th days after transplanting, the density as well as the dry mass of the weeds were assessed within the treatment with no weeds. Regarding the second experiment, what was assessed was the growth of sweet pepper, submitted to weed handling strategies within no-trillage and conventional planting systems. To attain such an objective, eight assessment times were established (0, 21, 42, 63, 84, 105, 126 e 147 DAT). The assessed features were: leaf area per plant, leaf area index, dry mass of leaves, of stem, of fruits, and the total dry mass per plant, leaf area ratio as well as the rates of absolute and relative growth and of net assimilation. On the 30th and 90th DAT, the weeds density and the dry mass were assessed in the treatments with no weeds. As to the third experiment, the water consumption and the sweet pepper s productivity were assessed. Based upon the relationship between productivity and water consumption, the efficiency as with water use (kg of fruit m-³ of water) was determined. On 0, 21, 42, 63, 84 e 105 DAT, the density and dry mass of weeds were assessed in the treatments with no weeds. Irrigation was done by way of dripping water, with different water supply to each subplot in order that the soil would be maintained with at least 80% of the total available water, based upon water tension in the soil. It was found that the soil temperature was influenced by the covering types, with wider temperature ranges and maximum temperatures in the treatments with weeds and in the treatments with the soil covered by polyethylene film within the conventional planting system as compared to the no trillage direct planting with regular weeds. The no-trillage system proved to be a suitable technique for growing sweet peppers under a high temperature condition. The no-trillage system displayed higher growth rates than those displayed by the conventional planting in all weed handling strategies. The highest rates were observed in the no-trillage with weeds; besides, this type of planting reduces infestation and the weeds dry mass accumulation. Insofar as the third trial is concerned, it was found that the weeds interference increased water consumption and reduced the sweet pepper productivity within the two planting systems; however, the conventional planting displayed stronger effects. The treatment with weeds in the direct planting displayed greater fruit productivity and greater efficiency as for water use as compared to the others. It was concluded that the dead covering in the direct planting lowered the soil temperature, favored the growth and productivity of sweet pepper, reduced infestation by weeds, and increased water use efficiency / Foram conduzidos na horta didática do Departamento de Ciências Vegetais da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), no município de Mossoró-RN, três experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar a interferência de plantas daninhas sobre a temperatura do solo, no crescimento e na eficiência do uso da água na cultura do pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.), submetido a estratégias de manejo de plantas daninhas nos sistemas de plantio direto e convencional. Os ensaios foram montados no esquema de parcelas subdivididas, distribuídas no delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Nas parcelas foram avaliados dois sistemas de plantio (direto e convencional) e nas subparcelas, três estratégias de manejo de plantas daninhas (cobertura do solo com filme de polietileno preto, com capinas regulares e sem capinas). Em cada subparcela, foram instalados sensores, a 5 cm de profundidade, para medir a temperatura do solo. Os dados foram coletados a cada 10 minutos e armazenados em dataloggers. No primeiro experimento, a partir dos dados obtidos, determinou-se a variação da temperatura ao longo do dia, no período de 20 a 30 dias após o transplantio (DAT) e a cada 5 dias a média das temperaturas máxima e mínima e a amplitude térmica diária durante o ciclo da cultura e aos 60 e 147 dias após o transplantio foram realizadas avaliações nos tratamentos sem capinas da densidade e massa seca de plantas daninhas. No segundo experimento avaliou-se o crescimento do pimentão submetido a estratégias de manejo de plantas daninhas nos sistemas de plantio convencional e direto. Para tal foram realizadas oito épocas de avaliações (0, 21, 42, 63, 84, 105, 126 e 147 DAT). As características avaliadas foram: área foliar por planta, índice de área foliar, massa seca de folhas, caule, frutos e total por planta, razão de área foliar, as taxas de crescimento absoluto e relativo e taxa de assimilação líquida. Aos 30 e 90 DAT foram realizadas avaliações de densidade e massa seca de plantas daninhas nos tratamentos sem capinas. No terceiro experimento avaliou-se o consumo de água e a produtividade do pimentão. A partir da relação entre a produtividade e o consumo de água determinou-se, para cada tratamento, a eficiência no uso da água (kg de fruto m-³ de água) e aos 0, 21, 42, 63, 84 e 105 DAT foram realizadas avaliações de densidade e massa seca de plantas daninhas nos tratamentos sem capinas. As irrigações foram realizadas por gotejamento com fornecimento de água diferenciado para cada subparcela, de modo a manter o solo com no mínimo de 80% da água disponível total, com base na tensão de água no solo. Verificou-se que a temperatura do solo foi influenciada pelos tipos de cobertura, tendo-se constatado maiores amplitudes térmicas e temperaturas máximas nos tratamentos com capinas e coberto com filme de polietileno no sistema de plantio convencional em relação ao plantio direto com capinas regulares. O sistema de plantio direto mostrou-se como uma técnica adequada para o cultivo do pimentão sob condição de temperatura elevada. O sistema de plantio direto apresentou índices de crescimento superiores aos do plantio convencional em todas as estratégias de manejo de plantas daninhas e as maiores taxas foram verificadas no plantio direto com capinas além de reduzir a infestação e o acúmulo de massa seca de plantas daninhas. No terceiro ensaio, constatou-se que a interferência das plantas daninhas elevou o consumo de água e reduziu a produtividade do pimentão nos dois sistemas de plantio, embora com efeitos mais pronunciados no plantio convencional. O tratamento com capinas no plantio direto apresentou maior produtividade de frutos e eficiência no uso da água em relação aos demais. Concluiu-se que a cobertura morta no sistema de plantio direto diminuiu a temperatura do solo e favoreceu o crescimento e a produtividade do pimentão, reduziu a infestação de plantas daninhas e elevou a eficiência no uso da água