Academic literature on the topic 'Physics and agriculture'

A series of energy-balance experiments were performed over a winter wheat field in Southern Arizona. A Bowen ratio energy-balance system (BREB), anemometer, and thermal infrared thermometer (IRT) were placed in the center of the field on day 15 of 1988 shortly after germination. The BREB system generated 12-minute averages of net radiation, soil heat flux, latent energy, and sensible heat flux (H) throughout the season, terminating on day 152, just before harvest. On day 134, an eddy-correlation system was placed adjacent to the BREB system, where it collected H-data concurrently for 17 successive days. The data from the BREB and eddy-correlation systems were regressed against each other to quantify their field performance. The regression standard error (SE) between the two systems was ±40 W/m². BREB H-data was used as a "standard" to evaluate three different sensible heat flux models that are suitable for remote sensing applications. The three models require thermal canopy temperature, air temperature, and wind speed as input. Two of the three models use aerodynamic resistance theory, one of which is stability corrected, and the third remote-sensing model employs Monin-Obukhov turbulent transfer theory. The regression analysis between the BREB H-values and the three remote-sensing models shows that the stability corrected aerodynamic resistance model and the Monin-Obukhov model are capable of estimating H-values over a wide range of surface and atmospheric conditions.

The sensing needs for the fresh produce industry can be split into two primary stages: during maturation in the field, also referred to as Precision Farming, and during storage and transport of the produce, or Postharvest Storage. This work seeks to improve the accuracy and reliability of commercially available electrochemical and spectroscopic sensors tailored to the sensing needs of the fresh produce industry. For electrochemical sensing, this study proposes the use of an inline filter to remove polar organic compounds, which can interfere with the readings of a platinum-based electrochemical sensor. A 50% improvement in measurement accuracy was achieved when monitoring the storage headspace of a container of apples. For portable spectroscopy instruments, this study suggests improvements for the alignment of the optical bench and the spectral collect protocol. Methods to reduce the influence of environmental noise, such as variability of background light (sunlight in the field) and thermal effects on hardware performance, are presented. This study also presents the first report of the calibration transfer of spectral regressions developed with Karl Norris's Derivative Quotient Method. The motivation for this aspect of research was to develop methods to collect stable and accurate data in the field, which can be used to improve the quality of fresh produce reaching the customer and reduce premature food spoilage.

Thesis (PhD (Physics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Radioactivity is well known and well understood, but its usefulness in industrial applications to optimise processes or increase economic viability is not yet fully utilised by many industries. This study focuses on the measurement of natural radioactivity and its application in heavy mineral separation and vineyard soil classification. The gamma radiometry set-up consisted of a high purity germanium detector, a Marinelli beaker as sample container and associated electronics. It was calibrated for laboratorybased measurements by minimising the background radiation with the use of lead castle and energy and resolution calibrations. Furthermore, detection parameters were optimised; these included the counting time, the selection of gamma rays used for analysis of a sample, the peak area calculation for the detector dead time and the detector efficiency. Given that the samples had different densities and volumes, the detector efficiency had to be corrected for volume and density effects. After implementation of the corrections and optimisations the detection system was tested and found able to accurately measure radioactivity concentrations. The systematic measurement errors for 238U were 5.1 % in the case of the heavy mineral sands and 34.3 % for the vineyard soils, 4.5 % for the 232Th concentrations and 4.7 % for 40K concentrations. Statistical errors were kept below 2 %. The application of radiometry has not been done before at any South African heavy mineral separation plant. For this reason radiometry is suggested as an easier, faster and cheaper alternative to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for effective implementation of grade control for zircon to improve the cost benefit of the heavy mineral separation process. Zircon is an example of a heavy mineral that is worldwide in demand with a consumption of more than a million tonnes per year. It is used in a wide range of industrial applications and products that include tiles, sanitary ware and plasma displays. South Africa is the second largest producer of zircon in the world and also has the second largest reserve of available zircon, making this mineral a viable source of income for several years to come. Radioactivity, in the form of uranium and thorium, and other impurities such as iron oxide and titanium oxide are found in the crystal lattice of zircon. For it to be a sellable product, the sum of the uranium and thorium concentrations must be less than 500 parts per million for prime or first grade zircon and less than 1000 parts per million for second grade zircon. At present the concentrations of uranium and thorium in zircon concentrates are measured on a whole rock basis by XRF during and at the end of the processing cycle before the final products are ready to be shipped. This is not an ideal situation as the grab samples are taken periodically and are not necessarily representative of the stream or final assignment and has resulted in significant losses by the producer. The solution is to accurately measure the uranium and thorium concentrations fast or immediately, preferably the measurements must be made online and in real time so that processing decisions can be implemented quickly to optimise the final product. Heavy mineral sand samples were obtained from the various separation processes in a Mineral Separation Plant and their 238U and 232Th concentrations determined. The results indicated that the samples’ uranium to thorium ratios together with their total concentrations can be used to differentiate between the samples (i.e. separation processes). The measurement results were compared with those obtained with XRF. The correlations with radiometry were excellent for the uranium (r2 = 0.992), thorium (r2 = 0.998) and total concentrations (r2 = 0.998). Radiometric measurements were also conducted by decreasing the counting time from 3600 s to 1 s to investigate its effect on the accuracy of the results. Correlations between the different times and 3600 s ranged from excellent to good. The obtained results are then used to recommend that radiometry is used in a Mineral Separation Plant to verify that the zircon and zirkwa meet the specifications, to optimise the entrance feed and the other separation processes and to monitor the tailings streams. Finally the practical aspects of the implementation of radiometry are discussed. As a second application was radiometry applied in an agricultural pilot study to demonstrate the applicability of radiometry as a possible useful tool in soil classification. The creation of a vineyard is a long term and expensive investment and its yield and quality will be influenced by many factors such as the type of soil, viticultural preparations and climate. Information on the different soil types in a vineyard is therefore indispensable for the optimisation of land use with respect to vine cultivar, wine quality and production. Soil samples were obtained from Kanonkop, Simonsig and Spier vineyards and their 238U, 232Th and 40K concentrations determined, assuming that fertilisers would have no effect on the results. The difference in 40K concentrations were related to the clay fraction of the soil and demonstrated that the Kanonkop and Simonsig soils are fine-grained and clay-rich compared to the sandy coarse-grained soils of Spier. The uranium and thorium concentrations were indicators of whether the mineralogy of the soil is the same as the underlying bedrock as well as soil maturity. The measurement results were compared with those obtained with XRF. The correlation with radiometry were poor for the uranium concentrations (r2 = 0.314), as many of the samples concentrations were below the XRF detection limit. The correlations were excellent for both thorium (r2 = 0.985) and potassium (r2 = 0.999). As a positive result from the findings of the study was an in-situ measurement performed by Newman et al. for the radiometric mapping of a Simonsig vineyard for soil classification.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Radioaktiwiteit is wel bekend en word goed verstaan, tog is die gebruik daarvan in industriele toepassings om prosesses te optimiseer of winsgrense te verhoog nog nie deur baie industrië ten volle benut nie. Hierdie studie fokus op die meting van natuurlike radioaktiwiteit en die toepassing daarvan in swaar mineraal skeiding en wingerd grond klassifikasie. Die gamma radiometrie opstelling het bestaan uit ‘n hoë suiwerheid germanium detektor, 'n Marinelli beker as monster houer en verwante elektronika. Dit was gekalibreer vir laboratorium gebaseerde metings deur die vermindering van die agtergrondstraling met die gebruik van lood kasteel en energie en resolusie kalibrasies. Verder was deteksie parameters geoptimaliseer, dit sluit in die teltyd, die keuse van gammastrale wat gebruik word vir die ontleding van 'n monster, die piek area berekening, die korreksie vir die detektor se dooie tyd en die detektor doeltreffendheid. Gegee dat die monsters van mekaar verskil het in terme van dighteid en volume was dit nodig om die detektor doeltreffendheid te korrigeer vir volume en digtheid effekte. Na die implementering van die korreksies en optimalisasie was die detektor stelsel getoets en was gevind dat radioaktiwiteit konsentrasies akkuraat gelewer kan lewer. Die sistematiese meet foute vir 238U was 5.1 % vir die mineraal sand en 34.3 % vir wingerd grond, 4.5 % vir 232Th konsentrasies en 4.7 % vir 40K konsentrasies. Statistiese foute was onder 2 % gehou. Die toepassing van radiometrie was nog nie voorheen by enige Suid-Afrikaanse swaar mineraal skeidings aanleg gedoen nie. Vir die rede is radiometrie voorgestel as ‘n makliker, vinniger en goedkoper alternatief teenoor XSF vir effektiewe implementering van graad beheer vir zirkon om die koste voordeel van die swaar mineral skeiding proses te verbeter. Zirkon is ‘n voorbeeld van ‘n swaar mineraal wat wêreldwyd in aanvraag is met ‘n verbruik van meer as ‘n miljoen ton per jaar. Dit word in ‘n wye reeks van industriele toepassings en produkte gebruik onder andere teëls, sanitêre ware en plasma skerms. Suid Afrika is die tweede grootste vervaardiger van zirkon in die wêreld en het ook die tweede grootste reserwe van besikbare zirkon. Dit veroorsaak dat die mineraal ‘n lewensvatbare brom van inkomste is vir nog etlike jare. Radioaktiwiteit, in die vorm van uraan en thorium, word tesame met ander onsuiwerhede soos ysteroksied en titaanoksied in zirkon se kristal rooster gevind. Om ‘n verkoopbare produk te wees moet die som van die uraan en thorium konsentrasies minder wees as 500 dele per miljoen vir prima en eerste graad zirkon en minder wees as 1000 dele per miljoen vir tweede graadse zirkon. Huidiglik word die uraan en thorium konsentrasies in die zirkon konsentraat gemeet op ‘n heel gesteente basis met X-straal fluoroskopie (XSF) gedurende en op die einde van die prosesering siklus net voor die finale produk reg is om versend te word. Dit is nie die ideale situasie nie, want die monsters word periodies geneem en is nie noodwendig verteenwoordigend van die stroom of die finale produk nie en het al tot beduidende verliese deur die vervaardiger gelei. Die oplossing is om die uraan en thorium konsentrasies vinnig of onmiddelik te meet, verkieslik moet die metings inlyn en intyds gedoen word om verwerkings besluite vinnig geimplementeer kan word om die finale produk te optimaliseer. Swaar mineraal sand monsters was verkry van die verskeie skeidingsprosesse in ‘n Mineraal Skeidings Aanleg en hul 238U en 232Th konsentrasies bepaal. Die resultate het aangetoon dat die monsters se uraan en thorium verhoudings saam met hul totale konsentrasies gebruik kan word om te onderskei tussen die monsters (oftewel die skeiding prosesse). Die meting resultate was vergelyk met dié verkry met XSF. Die korrelasies met radiometrie was uitstekend vir die uraan (r2 = 0.992), thorium (r2 = 0.998) en totale konsentrasies (r2 = 0.998). Radiometriese metings was ook uigevoer deur die teltyd te verminder van 3600 s tot 1 s om die uitwerking daarvan op die akkuraatheid van die resultate te ondersoek. Korrelasies tussen die verskillende tye en 3600 s het gewissel van uitstekend tot goed. Die bevindinge was dan gebruik om aan te beveel dat radiometrie in a Mineraal Skeidings Aanleg gebruik kan word om te verifeer dat daar aan die zirkon en zirkwa spesifikasies voldoen word, om die begin voer en ander skeidings prosesse te optimaliseer en ook die uitskot strome te monitor. Laastens is die praktiese aspekte van die implementering van radiometrie bespreek. Vir die tweede toepassing was radiometrie toepgepas in ‘n loods studie in die landbou om die toepaslikheid van radiometrie as ‘n moontlike nuttige instrument in grond klassifikasie te demonstreer. Die skepping van ‘n wingerd is ‘n lang termyn en duur belegging waarvan die opbrengs en kwaliteit beinvloed sal word deur vele faktore, onder andere die tipe grond, wynbou voorbereidings en die klimaat. Inligiting oor die verskillende grond tipes in ‘n wingerd is daarom onmisbaar vir die optimalisering van land gebruik in betrekking tot die wingerdstok kultivar, wyn kwaliteit en produksie. Radiometrie is toegepas om te demonstreer die toepaslikheid daaran as ‘n moontlike nuttige instrument in grond klassifikasie. Grondmonsters was verkry vanaf Kanonkop, Simonsig en Spier wingerde en hul 238U, 232Th en 40K konsentrasies bepaal met die aanname dat kunsmis nie ‘n uitwerking op die resultate sou hê nie. Die verskil in 40K konsentrasies was verwant aan die kleifraksie van die grond en het getoon dat die Kanonkop en Simonsig gronde is fyn korrelrig en kleiryk is in vergelyking met die sanderige growwe korrel grond van Spier. Die uraan en thorium konsentrasies het gedui op die samestelling van die grond en ook aangedui watter grond dieselfde is as die onderliggende rots. Die meting resultate was vergelyk met dié verkry met XSF. Die korrelasie met die radiometrie was sleg vir die uraan konsentrasies (r2 = 0.314) aangesien baie van die monster konsentrasies laer was as die XSF deteksie limiet. Die korrelasies was uitstekend vir beide thorium (r2 = 0.985) en kalium (r2 = 0.999). As ‘n positiewe resultaat van die studie se bevindinge was ‘n in-situ meting gedoen deur Newman et al. om ‘n Simonsig wingerd radiomeries te karteer vir grond klassifasie.

The El Nino phenomenon has a major impact over wide regions of the Pacific and possibly all over the world. The purpose of this thesis was to study its effects, specifically along the coast of British Columbia. An analysis of sea-surface temperature, sea-surface salinity and sea-level height was made with respect to El Nino events. Based on the results of that analysis, a model was developed. The model uses Kelvin wave dynamics, and can be used to predict the approximate time and magnitude of the sea-surface temperature anomaly created by an El Nino event. This prediction can be useful for fishermen because the anomaly of temperature has a major effect on the distribution pattern of fish. In conclusion, an analysis of water temperature and salinity anomalies as a function of depth as well as offshore distance was made.

The well-known and widely accepted Penman combination equation was applied to climatic data collected in a desert environment to predict actual evapotranspiration if the desert region were developed into irrigated agriculture. The Penman evaporation estimates from desert climate data were compared to Bowen ratio ET measurements collected on irrigated alfalfa fields in the general vicinity. Six variations of the wind function in Penman's equation were tested. From these six the best fit-model was determined. surprisingly, Penman's original equation provided the best fit (in mean hourly units W m⁻²) as PLE₁ = 0.953LE + 43. The s.e. was 51 W⁻², r² = 0.953, and n = 298 hourly points. A calibrated wind function was developed and named 'Sonoran'. The Sonoran wind function PLE₆ = 0.954LE + 24, s.e. = 48.8 r² = 0.956 provided virtually imperceptible improvements over Penman's original wind function.

Through semi-structured interviews with Mexican climatologists and farmers and others in the agricultural sector in Tlaxcala, Mexico, this study explored how uncertainties posed by both variable climatic and changing political-economic conditions affect the vulnerability of small-scale maize producers. The objective of my research was to assess whether and how small-scale Tlaxcaltecan farmers could use long-lead forecasts to mitigate climatic uncertainty. The potential effectiveness of the climate forecasts was evaluated within the context of cultural, political, social and economic factors that influence the decision-making of smallholder farmers. This research determined that the vulnerability of small-scale producers in Tlaxcala is more a function of political-economic uncertainty than of physical circumstances. While farmers employ complex methods for anticipating climatic events based on religious beliefs and local knowledge, their ability to adapt is constrained by lack of resources. As a result, the success of the forecasts in mitigating small-farmer vulnerability will be limited.

This thesis tests perceptions of climate variability with actual rainfall data. It also compares the perceptions of agriculturists in Burkina Faso, West Africa with those of agriculturists in the Sulphur Springs Valley, Southeastern Arizona. This study contests claims by other researchers that farmers' perceptions of climate change are shaped by events rather than variation in climate. The analyses demonstrate that people in both regions are able to detect variations in climate on time-scales of at least a decade. Both groups of farmers key into intra-annual variation that is related to seasonality. That perceptions are based on seasons is due to the fact that seasonality shapes the vulnerability of farming to climate in both regions. This thesis adds perceptions to the analytical field of climate vulnerability studies and points out that the atmospheric phenomena behind the variability farmers perceive merits scientific investigation.

The impacts of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on precipitation, reference evapotranspiration, and vegetation in a three-state region of central Mexico were investigated using daily weather data from 20 weather stations for the years 1970 through 1990, which included 5 El Nino years, 5 La Nina years, and 11 Neutral years. In addition, two years, 1997 (El Nino), and 1998 (La Nina) of 10-day NDVI composites were analyzed during the growing season (May-Oct) along with precipitation and reference evapotranspiration (ETo) over central Mexico. Regional precipitation trends were analyzed using the normalized rainfall departures. The interannual variation of vegetation cover was analyzed using the NDVI on 10-day and monthly bases. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Penman-Monteith method was used to calculate ETo. The dynamics of the soil water balance in central Mexico was evaluated according to the method proposed by Thornthwaite and Mather. Analyses indicate that driest conditions occurred within the northern part of the region and during neutral ENSO years. Rainfall amounts during El Nino and Neutral years were not statistically different however, La Nina years were about 30% wetter than N and EN years (0.05 level). The correlation coefficient between NDVI and precipitation was 0.79 in 1997, and 0.52 in 1998, in June and July, respectively. Negative correlation was found between NDVI and reference evapotranspiration during the rainy months of July and August. The spatio-temporal variability of NDVI showed that there was significant statistical difference in NDVI between regions, but not between years. Regional soil water balance determinations indicated that conditions were most favorable in the Southern part of the region for crop growth during La Nina years. In general, soil water deficits were reduced by about 50% during the growing season compared to the annual soil water deficits.

In order to better model the climate system, land-surface models are continuously being improved. Several studies using the Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS) are presented. One study compares simulations with the new ten-layer soil model (TLSM) and the previous BATS soil model at global and regional scales. TLSM tends to have much higher bare soil evaporation than the previous soil model. Soil in regions with high precipitation became wetter, while soil in regions with less precipitation became much drier. Potential errors in TLSM included underpredicted runoff and high-latitude transpiration. Corrections for these errors were incorporated and tested at six points. Surface runoff is increased by extracting water from the upper three TLSM layers rather than only the top layer. Bare soil evaporation is limited to the water present in the surface soil layer. A diurnal temporal error in the downward longwave radiation forcing data did not appear to significantly affect simulated long-term or large-scale averages. However, the assumption of uniform hourly distribution of 6-hour total precipitation did impact the partitioning of precipitation into evaporation, transpiration and runoff. A new method for modeling vertical water flow in heterogeneous porous media using the water-content based form of Richards equation is described, then used with BATS/TLSM to simulate the boreal forest energy and water exchanges at a black spruce site, where a thick moss layer covers a peat/loam soil, and at an aspen site with a homogenous clay soil. The moss is treated as a type of porous media, so its unique hydraulic and thermal properties can be modeled directly. Simulated net radiation is very similar to that observed over the summer months at both sites, but latent heat is greatly overestimated and simulated sensible heat fluxes are not well correlated with the observations. Observed soil temperature profiles and soil water content profiles are well captured at the black spruce site, as is the ability of moss to keep the underlying soil layers moist and cool. Despite the successful modifications made to TLSM during this study, the overestimation of evaporation remains a problem that should be addressed before widespread use of this model occurs.