Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Radiation use efficiency'

Wheat is one of the main staple food crops, providing an essential source of carbohydrates for millions of people. Therefore, demand for wheat will increase in next few decades as the global population increases toward a prediction 9 billion by 2050. Further advances in wheat yield requires the integration of new tools and strategies to complement traditional approaches to select genotypes that are better suited to abiotic stress, in the context of climate change. Identifying morphological and physiological characters, correlated with tolerance to environmental stress, is a priority for wheat breeders. One approach that can be combined in wheat breeding programmes is to create new genetic variation, for example by crossing wheat with close relatives such as spelt. The overall objective of this study is to investigate the physiological traits associated with radiation use efficiency (RUE) in a segregating population of 225 recombinant inbred lines, originating from the cross of wheat (cv. Forno) with spelt (cv. Oberkulmer). Three field experiments from 2010 to 2012 were carried out at Sutton Bonington. All lines, and their parents, were grown as ear rows in 2010 and arranged in randomized design with one replicate of mini plots in 2011. In 2012 three replicates were grown in a randomised complete block design. In these experiments, plant development, RUE, biomass, grain yield and associated physiological traits were measured in the recombinant inbred lines. In addition, a glasshouse experiment was conducted in 2013 to investigate gas exchange traits amongst 18 selected lines with a wide range of RUE, alongside the parents.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has been the crop with the second-highest global production for most of the past decade, and is the most extensive and productive crop in the UK (FAOSTAT database) 2009}. Wheat grain is the most traded food product in the world} and the major import in developing countries (Dixon et al., 2009). During the 1960's and 1970's the majority of improvement in yield in . wheat came about through selection for raised harvest index (the proportion of above-ground dry matter in grains at harvest; HI). However} since the 1980}s genetic gains in yield potential among winter wheats under optimal growing conditions have been associated with increased above-ground dry matter (AGDM) more closely than biomass partitioning (Clarke et of.) 2012; Shearman et al. 2005). AGDM is determined by radiation interception (f) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) (Monteith) 1977}. In the UK f can be mainly optimised through agronomy (canopy management)} so raising RUE has been prioritised by breeders (Reynolds et al., 2012; Fischer & Edmeades, 2010).

La captación de carbono por la vegetación es a escala global el flujo más grande de CO2 e influencia en gran medida el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas. Sin embargo, su variabilidad temporal y espacial sigue siendo poco conocida y difícil de estimar. Las técnicas de teledetección pueden ayudar a calcular mejor la producción primaria bruta (GPP) terrestre, que es la expresión a nivel de ecosistemas del proceso de la fotosíntesis. El objetivo principal de esta tesis fue encontrar una manera de estimar la variabilidad espacial y temporal de la eficiencia en el uso de la radiación (RUE) a escala de ecosistema y por lo tanto mejorar la estimación de la GPP de la vegetación terrestre por medio de datos de teledetección.
Se abordaron cuatro objetivos específicos. El primero fue analizar y sintetizar la literatura científica sobre la relación entre el Índice de Reflectancia Fotoquímica (PRI), un índice espectral vinculado a la eficiencia fotosintética, y diversas variables ecofisiológicas a través de un amplio rango de tipos funcionales de plantas y ecosistemas. El segundo objetivo fue analizar y sintetizar los datos de la variabilidad espacial de la GPP y la variabilidad espacial y temporal de la RUE y sus controles climáticos para un amplio rango de tipos de vegetación, desde la tundra a la selva tropical. El tercer objetivo fue comprobar si diferentes índices espectrales, es decir, el PRI, el NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) y EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index), derivados del Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) son buenos estimadores de la captación de carbono a diferentes escalas temporales en un bosque mediterráneo. El cuarto objetivo fue evaluar el uso de MODIS PRI como estimador de la RUE en un amplio rango de tipos de vegetación mediante el uso de datos sobre la captación de carbono de la vegetación derivados de las torres de covarianza turbulenta.
Las principales conclusiones de esta tesis son que hay una coherencia emergente de la relación RUE-PRI que sugiere un sorprendente grado de convergencia funcional de los componentes bioquímicos, fisiológicos y estructurales que afectan la eficiencia de captación de carbono a escala de hoja, de cobertura y de ecosistemas. Al complementar las estimaciones de la fracción de radiación fotosintéticamente activa interceptada por la vegetación (FPAR), el PRI permite mejorar la evaluación de los flujos de carbono a diferentes escalas, a través de la estimación de la RUE. Una segunda conclusión apoya la idea de que el funcionamiento anual de la vegetación es más limitado por la disponibilidad de agua que por la temperatura. La variabilidad espacial de la RUE anual y máxima puede explicarse en gran medida por la precipitación anual, más que por el tipo de vegetación. Una tercera conclusión es que, si bien EVI puede estimar el incremento diametral anual de los troncos, y el PRI puede estimar la fotosíntesis neta diaria nivel de hoja y la eficiencia en el uso de radiación, el papel del NDVI es más limitado como un estimador de cualquier parte del ciclo del carbono en bosques mediterráneos. Por lo tanto, el EVI y el PRI son excelentes herramientas para el seguimiento del ciclo del carbono en los bosques mediterráneos. Por último, el PRI derivado de información satelital disponible libremente, presenta una relación positiva significativa con la RUE para un amplio rango de diferentes tipos de bosques, incluso en años determinados, en bosques caducifolios. En general, esta tesis proporciona un mejor entendimiento de los controles espacial y temporal de la RUE y abre la posibilidad de estimar RUE en tiempo real y, por tanto, la captación de carbono de los bosques a nivel de ecosistemas a partir del PRI.
Carbon uptake by vegetation is the largest global CO2 flux and greatly influences the ecosystem functions. However, its temporal and spatial variability is still not well known and difficult to estimate. Remote sensing techniques can help to better estimate the terrestrial gross primary production (GPP), that is the ecosystem level expression of the photosynthesis process or the rate at which the ecosystem's producers capture CO2. The main objective of this thesis was to find a way to estimate the spatial and temporal variability of the Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) at the ecosystem scale and therefore to arrive to more accurate ways to estimate GPP of terrestrial vegetation by means of remotely sensed data. Four specific objectives were addressed in this thesis. The first objective was to examine and synthesize the scientific literature on the relationships between the Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI), a narrow-band spectral index linked to photosynthetic efficiency, and several ecophysiological variables across a wide range of plant functional types and ecosystems. The second objective was to analyze and synthesize data for the spatial variability of GPP and the spatial and temporal variability of the RUE and its climatic controls for a wide range of vegetation types, from tundra to rain forest. The third objective was to test whether different spectral indices, i.e. PRI, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index), derived from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) can be indicators of carbon uptake at different temporal scales by analyzing the relationships between detailed ecophysiological variables at the stand level in a Mediterranean forest. The fourth objective was to assess the use of MODIS PRI as surrogate of RUE in a wide range of vegetation types by using data on carbon uptake of the vegetation derived from eddy covariance towers.
The main conclusions of this thesis are that there is an emerging consistency of the RUE-PRI relationship that suggests a surprising degree of functional convergence of biochemical, physiological and structural components affecting leaf, canopy and ecosystem carbon uptake efficiencies. By complementing the estimations of the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the vegetation (fPAR) PRI enables improved assessment of carbon fluxes at different scales, through the estimation of RUE. A second conclusion supports the idea that the annual functioning of vegetation is more constrained by water availability than by temperature. The spatial variability of annual and maximum RUE can be largely explained by annual precipitation, more than by vegetation type. A third conclusion is that while EVI can estimate annual diametric wood increment, and PRI can estimate daily leaf level net photosynthesis and radiation use efficiency, the role NDVI is more limited as a surrogate of any part of the carbon cycle in this type of forest. Therefore, EVI and PRI are excellent tools for vegetation monitoring of carbon cycle in the Mediterranean forests, the first ones we tested in this thesis. Finally, the PRI derived from freely available satellite information was also found to present significant positive relationship with the RUE for a very wide range of different forest types, even in determined years, the deciduous forests. Overall, this thesis provides a better understanding of the spatial and temporal controls of the RUE and opens the possibility to estimate RUE in real time and, therefore, actual carbon uptake of forests at the ecosystem level using the PRI.
Keywords carbon cycle, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Enhanced Vegetation Index, Photochemical Reflectance Index, primary productivity, photosynthesis, remote sensing, climatic controls, eddy covariance, radiation use efficiency, terrestrial vegetation.

Master of Science
Department of Agronomy
Robert M. Aiken
Increasing crop water use efficiency (WUE), the amount of biomass produced per unit water consumed, can enhance crop productivity and yield potential. The objective of the first study was to evaluate the factors affecting water productivity among eight sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes, which differ in canopy architecture. Sorghum genotypes, grown under field conditions, showed significant differences in (a) biomass production, (b) water use, (c) intercepted radiation, (d) water productivity and (e) radiation use efficiency (RUE; the amount of biomass produced per unit of intercepted radiation which is suitable for photosynthesis). WUE and RUE were more strongly correlated to biomass production than to water use or intercepted radiation, respectively. RUE was positively correlated to WUE and tended to increase with internode length, the parameter used to characterize canopy architecture. These results demonstrate that increased utilization of radiation can increase water productivity in plants. Sorghum canopies that increase light transmission to mid−canopy leaves can increase RUE and also have the potential to increase crop productivity and WUE. The objective of the second study was to develop a quantitative model to predict leaf area index (LAI), a common quantification of canopy architecture, for sorghum from emergence to flag leaf stage. LAI was calculated from an algorithm developed to consider area of mature leaves (leaves with a ligule/collar), area of expanding leaves (leaves without a ligule/collar), total leaf area per plant and plant population. Slope of regression of modeled LAI on observed LAI varied for photoperiod sensitive (PPS) and insensitive (non−PPS) genotypes in 2010. A good correlation was found between the modeled and observed LAI with coefficient of determination (R[superscript]2) 0.96 in 2009 and 0.94 (non−PPS) and 0.88 (PPS) in 2010. These studies suggest that canopy architecture has prominent influence on water productivity of crops and quantification of canopy architecture through an LAI simulation model has potential in understanding RUE, WUE and crop productivity.

Spring-sown intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and field beans (Vicia faba L.) were grown on a sandy loam soil at University of Reading, UK. Wheat cultivar Axona, and bean cultivars, Scirocco and Maris Bead were grown as sole crops and additive intercrops at 50%, 75% and 100% recommended density (RD). In experiment 1 (1999), sown in March, LER for seed yield ranged from 1.12 to 1.18 at 75% RD with partial LER of 0.55 for beans and 0.63 for wheat. LER in experiments 2 and 3 ranged from 1.02 to 1.18 (2000) and from 0.84 to 1.22 (2001). Experiments 2 and 3 were May sown and beans performed less well in the intercrops with a partial LER of 0.28 compared to 0.90 for wheat (2000) and 0.32 compared to 0.89 (2001). Weeds were controlled with a pre- emergence application of pendimethalin (1999), rapid emergence prevented application (2000) and gave limited control (2001). Weeds were more predominant in sole beans. Supplementary irrigation in 2001 improved the growth of beans and the range of LER was 0.97 to 1.37. Seed yields of all treatments were higher in 1999 (553 and 315 gm-2 for sole wheat and beans) than in 2000 and 2001 (means of 264 and 113 gm-2 for sole wheat and beans). Maris Bead was more vigorous as a sole crop but similar to Scirocco in intercrops. 'Within each experiment, differences in bean yield were due to the number of pods m-2 with no difference in seed weight per pod but this was lower in experiments 2 and 3. The number of ears m-2 determined wheat yield differences in each experiment but grain weight per ear was lower in experiments 2 and 3. There were no consistent differences in radiation use efficiency between the sole crops or intercrops. IV.

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Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Um ensaio, com amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.), cv. IAC-TATUST, foi conduzido, na área experimental do Setor de Ciências Ambientais (21,85° S; 48,43° W; 786 m), FCA/UNESP, em Botucatu, SP, em parcela única sob tratamento úmido durante o período de 11/02/2001 a 06/06/2001. Durante todas as fases de crescimento das plantas foram monitoradas as radiações fotossinteticamente ativa incidente, refletida e transmitida, bem como a produção semanal da biomassa acumulada e sua energia química, incluindo raízes, hastes, folhas, flores, frutos e sementes, com o objetivo de determinar a eficiência de uso da radiação (EUR) e a eficiência de conversão da radiação interceptada (ECR) pelas plantas cultivadas. Os resultados mostraram que a EUR média foi de 1,33 g MJ-1 e a ECR foi de 2,5%, cujos valores estão coerentes com aqueles encontrados em literatura. Nas condições de Botucatu, a cultura do amendoim interceptou, aproximadamente 600 MJ m-2 de radiação PAR, de modo que no final do seu ciclo a energia da biomassa atingiu a magnitude de 18 MJ m-2. Em termos médios, o coeficiente de extinção da luz (k) foi de 0,68, o índice de colheita, em base de energia, foi de 0,38 e a produtividade obtida, do amendoim em casca, foi equivalente a 4,5 t ha-£.
A trial, with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), cv. IAC-TATU-ST, was carried out, in experimental area of Setor de Ciências Ambientais (21,85° S; 48,43° W; 786 m), FCA/UNESP, in Botucatu, SP, in single section with humid treatment during the period from 11/02/2001 to 06/06/2001. For all growth phases of peanut crop, the incident, reflected and transmitted photosynthetically active radiations were monitored, as well as the weekly production of the accumulated biomass, chemical energy, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, with purpose of determining the radiation use efficiency and the radiation conversion efficiency of intercepted PAR for the cultivated plants. The results showed that EUR was about 1,33 g MJ-1 and ECR was about 2,5%. The values are coherent with those found in literature. In Botucatu conditions, the peanut crop intercepted, more or less 600 MJ m-2 of PAR, so that in the end of cycle, the biomass energy reached to 18 MJ m-2. In standard terms, the light extinction coefficient (k) was about 0.68, the harvest index, in energy basis, was about 0.38 and peanut yield, in peel, was equivalent to 4.5 t ha-£.

Wheat canopies were grown at either 330 or 1200 μmol mol-1 CO2 in sealed controlled environments, where carbon fluxes and radiation interception were continuously and nondestructively measured during their life cycles. The effects of elevated CO2 on daily growth rates, canopy quantum yield, canopy and root carbon use efficiencies, and final dry mass were calculated from carbon flux measurements in an open gas exchange system. Dry biomass at harvest was predicted from the gas exchange data to within ± 8%. The greatest effect of elevated CO2 occurred in the first 15d after emergence; however, several physiological processes were enhanced throughout the life cycle. Elevated CO2 increased average net photosynthesis by 30%, average shoot respiration by 10%, and average root respiration by 40%. Crop growth rate, calculated from gas exchange data, was 30% higher during both vegetative growth and reproductive growth. Elevated CO 2 did not affect radiation interception, but increased average canopy quantum yield from 0.039 to 0.051 (31%). Average canopy carbon use efficiency was increased by 12%. Although harvest index was unaffected, these increases in the physiological determinants of yield by elevated CO2 resulted in a 14% increase in seed yield.

Orientador: Dinival Martins
Banca: Raimundo Leite Cruz
Banca: Emerson Galvani
Resumo: Um ensaio, com amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.), cv. IAC-TATUST, foi conduzido, na área experimental do Setor de Ciências Ambientais (21,85° S; 48,43° W; 786 m), FCA/UNESP, em Botucatu, SP, em parcela única sob "tratamento úmido" durante o período de 11/02/2001 a 06/06/2001. Durante todas as fases de crescimento das plantas foram monitoradas as radiações fotossinteticamente ativa incidente, refletida e transmitida, bem como a produção semanal da biomassa acumulada e sua energia química, incluindo raízes, hastes, folhas, flores, frutos e sementes, com o objetivo de determinar a eficiência de uso da radiação (EUR) e a eficiência de conversão da radiação interceptada (ECR) pelas plantas cultivadas. Os resultados mostraram que a EUR média foi de 1,33 g MJ-1 e a ECR foi de 2,5%, cujos valores estão coerentes com aqueles encontrados em literatura. Nas condições de Botucatu, a cultura do amendoim interceptou, aproximadamente 600 MJ m-2 de radiação PAR, de modo que no final do seu ciclo a energia da biomassa atingiu a magnitude de 18 MJ m-2. Em termos médios, o coeficiente de extinção da luz (k) foi de 0,68, o índice de colheita, em base de energia, foi de 0,38 e a produtividade obtida, do amendoim em casca, foi equivalente a 4,5 t ha-£.
Abstract: A trial, with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), cv. IAC-TATU-ST, was carried out, in experimental area of Setor de Ciências Ambientais (21,85° S; 48,43° W; 786 m), FCA/UNESP, in Botucatu, SP, in single section with "humid treatment" during the period from 11/02/2001 to 06/06/2001. For all growth phases of peanut crop, the incident, reflected and transmitted photosynthetically active radiations were monitored, as well as the weekly production of the accumulated biomass, chemical energy, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, with purpose of determining the radiation use efficiency and the radiation conversion efficiency of intercepted PAR for the cultivated plants. The results showed that EUR was about 1,33 g MJ-1 and ECR was about 2,5%. The values are coherent with those found in literature. In Botucatu conditions, the peanut crop intercepted, more or less 600 MJ m-2 of PAR, so that in the end of cycle, the biomass energy reached to 18 MJ m-2. In standard terms, the light extinction coefficient (k) was about 0.68, the harvest index, in energy basis, was about 0.38 and peanut yield, in peel, was equivalent to 4.5 t ha-£.
Mestre

The literature suggests that grain number largely determines and as such limits yield in barley. Many of the reported studies were conducted in relatively low yielding environments and it is unclear if grain number is also a limiting factor in high yield potential climates. Nor is it known with certainty what physiological or morphological traits must be targeted in order to increase grain number. There may be a degree of trade-off between yield components whereby grain number is adjusted according to resource availability to the plant, either pre- or post-anthesis, in a way that ensures consistently well-filled grains at harvest. If mechanisms exist for adjusting grain numbers or grain storage capacity after anthesis to match assimilate availability, this may place limits on how far yield can be increased without increasing post-anthesis assimilate production. In order to determine the scope for increasing the yield potential of barley a more thorough understanding of the potential trade-offs between grain number, grain storage capacity and post-anthesis assimilate supply is required. The aim of research reported in this thesis was to establish what determines the yield of spring barley in Ireland and to investigate the timing and possible mechanisms involved in regulating grain number and grain storage capacity in relation to the supply of photoassimilates. Field experiments were carried out on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Quench) at several locations in Ireland from 2011 to 2013. A sub-set of experiments involving destructive sampling and in-field assessments on plots managed as per current best farm practice gathered crop growth, development, and yield component data across sites and seasons in order to establish what determines yield under typical crop production conditions. Separate experiments artificially manipulated the source:sink ratio of plots via shading and seed rate treatments to investigate in more detail the mechanisms determining grain number and grain weight and any potential trade-off between the two components. Grain number accounted for most of the variation in yield across 9 site/seasons of crops managed as per current best practice in Ireland (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.84) while grain weight remained relatively conserved. Ear number accounted for most of the variation in grain number (P = 0.002; R2 = 0.75) and ear number itself was largely determined by shoot survival from an early season peak through to harvest (P <0.001; R = 0.96). Shoot size and weight at the beginning of stem extension had the largest influence on shoot survival. Shading treatments were used to test whether there was a mechanism for adjusting grain numbers after anthesis to match the availability of assimilate for grain filling. Substantial post-anthesis reductions in assimilate supply during grain filling in 2011 and 2012 did not significantly reduce grain number (P > 0.05). A small reduction in grain number (8%) was found in response to shading for a two week period early post-anthesis in 2013, however this was likely a reduction in grain set in shoots or spikelets that reached anthesis after the treatment was imposed rather than a post-anthesis abortion or down-regulation of grain number. Percentage light interception by well managed (unshaded) canopies shortly after anthesis was generally greater than 93% across several sites and seasons, therefore increasing grain numbers to increase sink capacity would likely be associated with an unavoidable decrease in the amount of light intercepted per grain during the early grain development period. However, experiments showed that grain weight at harvest was neither reduced nor increased in response to variations in light interception during this period of endosperm development (P > 0.05), because soluble sugar concentrations in the grain were maintained at the expense of storage reserve deposition in the stems. Results suggest that grain number and grain storage capacity may both be determined pre-anthesis resulting in a trade-off during stem extension whereby grain numbers are adjusted in a way that helps conserve grain weight. A strong negative relationship between ear number and grain number per ear (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.81) across two sites of seed rate experiments in 2013 resulted in a plateau in overall grain number of approximately 18,000 grains m-2 suggesting that there may be a limit to how many grains can be established in a given environment; this was achieved with an ear number of approximately 1000 ears m-2. Yield potential for Irish conditions was estimated at 12.29 t ha-1 at 85% dry matter based on estimates of potential assimilate supply during grain filling; with a grain number of 26,481 m-2 required to utilise this. These estimates are both 44% higher than the mean yield and grain number achieved in crops managed as per current best farm practice. Once high potential ear numbers are secured (> 1000 m-2), breaking the negative relationship between ear number and grain number per ear may hold the key to further increasing grain number and hence yield potential. Increasing assimilate production and partitioning to ears during stem extension, either through increases in the duration of stem extension or solar radiation use efficiency, may enable larger grain numbers to be produced whilst maintaining or increasing individual grain storage capacity and deposition of stem storage reserves. Water and nutrient availability, as well as susceptibility to lodging may present further limitations to yield in the future.

Biogeochemical processes of reefs have been studied for over fifty years, however, information is still lacking on several fundamental reef processes. This lack of information has been limited essentially by techniques that cannot repeatedly sample large spatial areas. These limitations can be reduced with the use of an optical model to estimate biogeochemical processes. This project applied Monteith's light-use efficiency model to coral reef communities for determining photosynthetic and calcification efficiency of light. Gross primary production and net calcification were pooled from the peer-reviewed literature to calculate efficiency. Process efficiency was then compared across functional types of reef communities (i.e., coral, algae/seagrasses, mixed, and sand), and by year, location, season, and depth. Photosynthetic efficiency was calculated from 19 studies, showing an average of 0.039 mol O2 mol-1 photons. Photosynthetic efficiency differed significantly for mixed communities between studies, and for algae/seagrass communities among depths. Calcification efficiency averaged at 0.007 mol CaCO3 mol-1 photons. Significant differences were found in calcification efficiency of algae/seagrasses and mixed reef communities among studies and localities. Additionally, calcification efficiency of algae/seagrasses varied significantly in accordance with depth. Future use of the light-use efficiency model will require determining the efficiency of each functional type to estimate gross production and calcification. Additionally, further investigation of the light-use efficiency model will require long-term measurements of APAR, which is the fraction of incident light absorbed, and the incorporation of environmental parameters that reduce efficiency.

Fatores ambientais são determinantes nos processos fisiológicos das plantas de milho, no acúmulo de matéria seca e no rendimento da cultura. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar as interações entre as variáveis ambientais com o crescimento, desenvolvimento e produtividade do milho (Zea mays L.) em quatro épocas de semeaduras, com destaque para a eficiência no uso da radiação e da água. Para tanto, um experimento de campo foi conduzido na região de Arapiraca, (09º48 55,1 S, 36º36 22,8 W e altitude de 236 m), Alagoas Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido, durante a estação chuvosa, de maio a outubro de 2008 com quatro épocas de semeadura. A primeira época de semeadura (T1) ocoreu no dia 06 de maio, a segunda (T2) no dia 19 de maio, a terceira no dia 10 de junho e a quarta no dia 30 de junho de 2008, utilizando a variedade Al Bandeirante. Os elementos meteorológicos foram medidos através de sensores, instalados na estação meteorológica localizada na área contígua ao experimento e os dados de umidade do solo foram capturados através de sensores, utilizando a reflectometria no domínio do tempo (TDR), coletadas durante a estação de crescimento da cultura. A evapotranspiração de referência (ETo), a evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc) e a evapotranspiração real (ETr) foram estimadas pela metodologia definida no Boletim FAO-56. A análise das interações agrometeorológicas do milho mostraram que a taxa de crescimento da cultura (TCC) em g m-2 dia-1, o índice de área foliar (IAF) no estádio fenológico de grãos farináceos (R4) e a produtividade de grãos foram menores na última época de semeadura (T4), quando comparadas às demais épocas (T1, T2 e T3). Já os valores da área foliar específica (AFE) não apresentaram diferenças entre si, para as quatro épocas de semeadura. A evapotranspiração real (ETr) variou de 356 mm, na primeira época de semeadura (T1) a 229,6 mm na última época (T4), enquanto a eficiência no uso da água (EUA) esteve no intervalo de 4,28 kg m-3 na terceira época (T3) a 3,76 kg m-3 de matéria seca, na quarta época de semeadura (T4). Na primeira época de semeadura (T1), verificou-se uma eficiência no uso da radiação (EUR) de 4,61 g de massa seca por MJ m-2 de radiação fotossinteticamente ativa absorvida (RFAabs), enquanto a quarta época (T4), contabilizou 2,98 g de massa seca por MJ m-2 de RFAabs, sendo 35,4% menor que T1. Diante das observações conclui-se que a menor produtividade foi verificada no tratamento T4, decorrente das modificações morfofisiológicas, ocorridas nas plantas de milho, causadas pelas alterações ambientais.

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Forrageiras do gênero Cynodon são conhecidas por sua capacidade de resposta a altas doses de nitrogênio (N). Em condições tropicais o N pode se tornar um problema ambiental e financeiro devido à sua baixa eficiência de uso pelas plantas, principalmente como resultado de perdas por volatilização e/ou lixiviação. Portanto, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar fontes e doses de N no crescimento e produção de matéria seca do Tifton 85, bem como mudanças nas frações do carbono (C) no solo. Um experimento foi conduzido de 2012 a 2014, e constituiu de um fatorial em um delineamento de blocos ao acaso, onde os tratamentos foram a associação de duas fontes de N (nitrato de amônio [NA] e ureia), e cinco doses do nutriente (0, 60, 120, 180 e 240 kg ha-1 N por corte) aplicadas a cada 30 dias. Neste experimento foram utilizados NA e ureia enriquecidos com 15N como uma ferramenta para quantificar a recuperação do N advindo do fertilizante, nas plantas e no sistema solo-planta. As plantas foram cortadas para avaliar a produção de matéria seca, concentração de N na parte aérea e recuperação. O índice de área foliar (LAI), radiação fotossinteticamente ativa interceptada (PARi) e índice de clorofila (CI) foram mensurados no dia anterior ao corte. As amostras de solo foram coletadas nas parcelas que receberam NA e foram fracionadas em carbono orgânico particulado (POC), fração leve livre (FLF) e fração mineral (C-min); O teor de C nas frações foi quantificado. Os resultados demonstraram que o NA pode ser uma fonte mais eficiente somente quando a quantidade de precipitação é insuficiente para incorporar o fertilizante ao solo, resultando em maior produção de forragem, na somatória dos dois anos ambas as fontes produziram a mesma quantidade de matéria seca onde a maior produtividade 37,2 Mg ha-1, foi atingida com a dose de 210 kg ha-1 N por corte. Por outro lado, a quantidade de N recuperado pelo sistema de planta+solo foi maior quando a ureia foi utilizada, com destaque para a quantidade de N no solo, onde a ureia foi capaz de manter 10% mais N que o NA, a recuperação do nutriente diminuiu à medida que as doses foram elevadas. Nenhuma alteração no conteúdo de C foi notada devido às diferentes doses de N utilizadas, no entanto o POC e o C-min foram mais sensíveis às mudanças na camada de 0-0,1 m do que na camada de 0,1-0,2 m.
Cynodon hybrids are known by their ability to respond to high rates of nitrogen (N). In tropical conditions, N may become an environmental and financial issue due to its low efficiency of use by plants, mainly as a result of losses by volatilization and/or leaching. Therefore, the aims with this work were to evaluate N sources and rates on growth and dry matter yield of Tifton 85 and to determine changes in soil carbon (C) fractions in response to N fertilization. The 2-yr field experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2014, and consisted of a factorial design. Treatments were a combination of two sources of N (ammonium nitrate [AN] and urea) and five rates of the nutrient (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha-1 N per cut) applied broadcast every 30 days. This study used AN and urea enriched with 15N as a tool to quantify the recovery of N derived from fertilizer in plants and the soil-plant system. Forage was cut at 30-d intervals for dry matter yield, shoot N concentration determinations and N recovery. The leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetic active radiation intercepted (PARi) and chlorophyll index (CI) were evaluated on the day before clipping. Soil samples were collected in plots receiving AN and they were fractionated in to particulate organic carbon (POC), free light fraction (FLF) and mineral fraction (C-min); The C concentration of the various fractions was determined. Results showed that AN was a more efficient source only when the amount of precipitation is insufficient to incorporate the fertilizer to the soil, resulting in increased production, in the sum of the two years both sources produced the same amount of dry matter in which the highest productivity, 37.2 t ha-1 , was achieved at the rate of 210 kg ha-1 N per cutting. On the other hand, the amount of N recovered by the plant+soil system was higher when urea was used, especially the amount of N in the soil, where urea was able to maintain 10% more N than AN, the nutrient recovery decreased as the rates were increased. No change in soil C concentration was detected in response to the different N rates used, however the POC and the C-min were more sensitive to changes in the layer of 0-0.1 m than the layer from 0.1-0.2 m.

This research examined the mechanisms by which temperature, water availability and nitrogen (N) affect the dry matter (DM) yield potential of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) dominant pastures. The experiment was a split plot design with main plots of fully irrigated (I) or dryland (D), sub-plots of N fertiliser at 800 kg N/ha in 2003/04; and 1600 kg N/ha in 2004/05 (+N) or 0 kg N/ha (-N). The potential environmental yield of an established 8 year old cocksfoot dominant pasture was 21.9 t DM/ha/y from I+N pastures compared with 9.8 t DM/ha by I-N pastures and 15.1 t DM/ha/y by D+N pastures. The lowest yields were from dryland pastures with no N which produced 7.5 t DM/ha/y in 2003/03 and 5.0 t DM/ha/y in 2004/05. The effect of seasonal temperatures on the DM production, when periods of water stress were excluded, was quantified using thermal time accumulated above a base temperature of 3°C as 7.0 kg DM/°Cd/ha for N fertilised pastures and 3.3 kg DM/°Cd/ha for pastures with no N. The 2.5 t DM/ha difference in yields of D-N pastures in 2003/04 and 2004/05 was the result of the duration, extent and timing of the water stress period. In both years the critical limiting deficit (DL) was calculated as 78 mm from the soil moisture deficit in the 0-0.8 m soil layers. Beyond DL yield decreased at a rate of 1.45%/mm in +N and –N pastures, relative to fully irrigated control pastures. Yields of D+N and D-N pastures were similar during periods of water stress with 0.4±0.1 t/DM/ha produced during the rotation ending 30/12/2003. This was less than from either the I-N (1.2 t DM/ha) or I+N (3.5 t DM/ha) pastures due to the reduction in the amount of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the canopies of the dryland pastures. However, in the rotation ending 2/5/2004, after autumn rain alleviated drought conditions, yield of the D+N pasture was 2.1 t DM/ha compared with 1.7 t DM/ha by I+N pastures. The effect of N on yield was described using a nutrition index which showed that as DM yield increased N% in the herbage declined. This is a function of the ratio between metabolic and structural N requirements rather than caused by ontogeny alone. Specific leaf N was determined at two harvests and appeared constant at a given point in time (1.0-1.6 g N/m² leaf). In contrast, specific pseudostem N increased from 0.8-1.0 g N/m² pseudostem at an NNI of 0.4 in –N pastures to 2.6-3.0 g N/m² pseudostem at an NNI of 1.2 in the +N pastures. Differences between the yields of +N and –N pastures were caused by differences in radiation use efficiency (RUE) as determined by the linear relationship (R²=0.76) between RUE and the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI). In this thesis, empirical relationships for the effects of temperature, water availability and N were derived and the physiological mechanisms which underlie these descriptions were identified. These relationships provide clear and simple explanations of the effects of environmental variables on the productivity of cocksfoot based pastures which will enhance understanding of the benefits and limitations of cocksfoot, particularly in dryland farming systems.

Due to the great demand for high-speed wireless communication, Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) antenna systems have been attracted rapidly increased attention. Therefore, the interaction between human body and MIMO antenna becomes an important issue, which will be studied in the present thesis. This thesis mainly focuses on the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the LTE MIMO antenna in mobile phone. It is different from the SISO antenna, and as the MIMO antenna has more operation modes and functions (MIMO, SISO, beam forming, etc.), more parameters need to be investigated for the SAR of the antenna. In this thesis, four designs of dual elements MIMO antenna (dual semi ground free PIFA, co-located antenna, dual OG PIFA in parallel position and dual OG PIFA in orthogonal position) are studied under four typical LTE frequency points (0.75GHz, 0.85GHz 1.9Ghz and 2.1/2.6GHz), with the effects of different chassis lengths (90mm, 110mm, 130mm and 150mm), the port’s states (terminated with 50ohm, open or short) and phase difference (0 degree to 360 degree). The SAR, when dual elements operate simultaneously, is also studied, which is evaluated by the SAR to PEAK Location Spacing Ratio (SPLSR). The simulations are run on both a SAM head phantom and a flat phantom by CST 2011, and measurements on flat phantom are carried out with iSAR and Dasy to verify the accuracy of our simulations. Besides SAR, the body loss of MIMO and SISO LTE antennas (MIMO: dual semi ground free PIFA and co-located Antenna; SISO: OG PIFA on top and OG PIFA at the bottom) in mobile phones are also studied in this thesis. The body loss and multiplex efficiency (MUX) with head and hand (H+H) in an increased cell phone case length (110mm, 130mm and 150mm) are investigated and discussed. Furthermore, some prominent problems in body loss study (body loss reduction, right and left hand problem, etc.) are also discussed in this thesis.

Orientador: Edson Luiz Mendes Coutinho Coutinho
Coorientador: Takashi Muraoka
Banca: Henrique Coutinho Junqueira Franco
Banca: Valdeci Orioli Júnior
Banca: José Eduardo Corá
Banca: Carolina Fernandes
Resumo: Forrageiras do gênero Cynodon são conhecidas por sua capacidade de resposta a altas doses de nitrogênio (N). Em condições tropicais o N pode se tornar um problema ambiental e financeiro devido à sua baixa eficiência de uso pelas plantas, principalmente como resultado de perdas por volatilização e/ou lixiviação. Portanto, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar fontes e doses de N no crescimento e produção de matéria seca do Tifton 85, bem como mudanças nas frações do carbono (C) no solo. Um experimento foi conduzido de 2012 a 2014, e constituiu de um fatorial em um delineamento de blocos ao acaso, onde os tratamentos foram a associação de duas fontes de N (nitrato de amônio [NA] e ureia), e cinco doses do nutriente (0, 60, 120, 180 e 240 kg ha-1 N por corte) aplicadas a cada 30 dias. Neste experimento foram utilizados NA e ureia enriquecidos com 15N como uma ferramenta para quantificar a recuperação do N advindo do fertilizante, nas plantas e no sistema solo-planta. As plantas foram cortadas para avaliar a produção de matéria seca, concentração de N na parte aérea e recuperação. O índice de área foliar (LAI), radiação fotossinteticamente ativa interceptada (PARi) e índice de clorofila (CI) foram mensurados no dia anterior ao corte. As amostras de solo foram coletadas nas parcelas que receberam NA e foram fracionadas em carbono orgânico particulado (POC), fração leve livre (FLF) e fração mineral (C-min); O teor de C nas frações foi quantificado. Os resultados demonstraram que o... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: Cynodon hybrids are known by their ability to respond to high rates of nitrogen (N). In tropical conditions, N may become an environmental and financial issue due to its low efficiency of use by plants, mainly as a result of losses by volatilization and/or leaching. Therefore, the aims with this work were to evaluate N sources and rates on growth and dry matter yield of Tifton 85 and to determine changes in soil carbon (C) fractions in response to N fertilization. The 2-yr field experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2014, and consisted of a factorial design. Treatments were a combination of two sources of N (ammonium nitrate [AN] and urea) and five rates of the nutrient (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha-1 N per cut) applied broadcast every 30 days. This study used AN and urea enriched with 15N as a tool to quantify the recovery of N derived from fertilizer in plants and the soil-plant system. Forage was cut at 30-d intervals for dry matter yield, shoot N concentration determinations and N recovery. The leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetic active radiation intercepted (PARi) and chlorophyll index (CI) were evaluated on the day before clipping. Soil samples were collected in plots receiving AN and they were fractionated in to particulate organic carbon (POC), free light fraction (FLF) and mineral fraction (C-min); The C concentration of the various fractions was determined. Results showed that AN was a more efficient source only when the amount of precipitation is insufficient to... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Doutor

*‘Pasja’ (Brassica campestris x napus) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala L.) were grown at Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand in 2008 with different levels of phosphorus (P) fertiliser. Banded or broadcast P fertiliser was applied at 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P/ha at establishment. Total dry matter (DM) production, the proportion of the leaf and stem and leaf area development were measured over time and related to the biophysical environment. For ‘Pasja’, final DM increased with P rate from 3730 kg DM/ha to ~4900 kg DM/ha at 60 kg P/ha. For kale the increase was from 8710 kg DM/ha for the control to ~11000 kg DM/ha for all P treatments. The leaf to stem ratio declined from 22-31 at 17 days after emergence to 10.4 at the final harvest for ‘Pasja’, which meant the crop was effectively made up mainly of leaf (~90%). The ratio for kale declined from 2.7 at 24 days after emergence to 0.64 at the final harvest. The leaf to stem ratio for both species did not respond to either the method of application or rate of P. Seedling DM accumulation increased with applied P over the first 10 to 17 DAE for ‘Pasja’ and kale respectively. The crops went from shoot growth priority to root growth. The phyllochron of both species was unaffected by P application but responded linearly to the temperature above 0°C. For ‘Pasja’ the phyllochron was 60°Cd compared with 109°Cd for kale. As a consequence ‘Pasja’ developed its canopy and reached critical leaf area index (LAIcrit) earlier than kale. Leaf area index (LAI) for the control crops of both species was lower than for P fertiliser treatments with a maximum of 3.6 for ‘Pasja’ and 3.8 for kale. There was no difference in leaf area indices among the P fertiliser treatments for ‘Pasja’, while kale LAI differed with the rate of P application up to 40 kg P/ha. Total accumulated intercepted solar radiation (RIcum) was 8 and 11% greater for ‘Pasja’ and kale crops respectively when P was applied compared with the control. Thus, the difference in total dry matter yield due to P application was attributed to the difference in RIcum. Neither the method of application or rate of P applied affected the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of either crop. For ‘Pasja’ the RUE was 1.1 g DM/MJ PAR and for kale 1.33 g DM/MJ PAR. Based on this research, it was concluded that P application increased RIcum as a result of increased LAI. The difference in total DM yield was attributed to differences in RIcum. It is recommended that farmers growing ‘Pasja’ and kale under similar conditions to this experiment should apply 40 kg P/ha for ‘Pasja’ and band 20 kg P/ha for kale. *‘Pasja’ is considered both as a species and cultivar in this document as it marketed as such in New Zealand. Technically ‘Pasja’ is a leaf turnip.

The general goal of this research was to understand the agronomic and physiological changes of a lucerne crop in distinct physical radiation environments and to verify the potential of lucerne to grow under shaded conditions. To achieve this, the research was conducted in four main steps: (i) firstly, experimental data collection in the field using two artificial shade materials (shade cloth and wooden slats) under inigated and non-irrigated conditions; (ii) a second experiment with data collection in a typical temperate dryland agroforestry area under non-irrigated conditions; (iii) generation of a light interception sub-model suitable for shaded crops and (iv) a linkage between the light interception sub-model and a canopy photosynthesis model for agroforestry use. In experiments 1 and 2, lucerne crop was exposed to 6 different light regimes: full sunlight (FS), shade cloth (FS+CL), wooden slats (FS+SL), trees (T), trees+cloth (T +CL) and trees+slats (T+SL). The FS+SL structure produced a physical radiation environment (radiation transmission, radiation periodicity and spectral composition) that was similar to that observed in the agroforestry site (f). The mean annual photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was 41 % under the FS+CL, 44% under FS+SL and 48% under T compared with FS in clear sky conditions. Plants were exposed to an intermittent (sun/shade) regime under both FS+SL and T, whereas under FS+CL the shaded light regime was continuous. The red to far-red (RIFR) ratio measured during the shade period under the slats was 0.74 and under the trees was 0.64. However, R/FR ratio increased to 1.26 and 1.23 during the illuminated period under FS+SL and T, respectively, and these were equivalent to the ratio of 1.28 observed under the FS+CL and 1.31 in FS. The radiation use efficiency (RUE) of shoots increased under the 5 shaded treatments compared with full sunlight. The pattern of radiation interception was unchanged by radiation flux, periodicity and spectral composition and all treatments had a mean extinction coefficient of 0.82. However, the magnitude of the decrease in canopy growth was less than those in PPFD transmissivity. The mean lucerne annual dry matter (DM) yield was 17.5 t ha⁻¹ in FS and 10 t ha⁻¹ under the FS+CL, FS+SL and T regimes. This declined to 3.4 t DM ha⁻¹ under T+CL (22% PPFD transmissvity) and 4.1 t DM ha⁻¹ under T+SL (23% transmissivity). A similar pattern of response was observed for leaf net photosynthesis (Pn) rates under the shade treatments compared with full sun. In addition, spectral changes observed under the trees and slats affected plant motphology by increasing the number of long stems, stem height and internode length compared with full sunlight. Thus, there were two main explanations for the increase in RUE under shade compared with full sun: (i) preferential partition of assimilates to shoot rather than root growth and/or (ii) leaves under shade were still operating at an efficient part of the photosynthetic light curve. The changes proposed for the canopy Pn model were appropriate to simulate the radiation environment of an agroforestry system. However, the model underestimated DM yields under the continuous and intermittent shade regimes. These were considered to be mainly associated with plant factors, such as overestimation in maintenance respiration and partitioning between shoots and roots in shade and the intermittency light effect on leaf Pn rates. Further investigation in these topics must be addressed to accurately predict crop yield in agroforestry areas. Overall, the lucerne crop responded typically as a sun-adapted plant under shade. It was concluded that lucerne yield potential to grow under intermediate shade was superior to most of C3 pastures previously promoted in the literature.

博士
國立中興大學
農藝學系
90
Solar Radiation Use Efficiency and Its Discriminant Functions of the Rice Varieties Resealed in Taiwan Abstract This study aimed to explore a set of canonical discriminant functions, i.e., linear combinations of certain quantitative traits, that best reveal the difference of solar radiation use efficiency of grain yield (RUEy) among rice varieties. A total of 25 varieties randomly selected from the collection of rice varieties released in Taiwan during the past 60 years were used to conducted field experiments with various nitrogen rates and/or planting densities in the first and the second crop seasons through the years from 1997to1999. Plant height, tiller number, leaf area index , leaf inclination angle, light interception rate, and total shoot dry weight were periodically measured throughout the growing season, and grain yield and its components, i.e., panicle number, spikelet number per panicle, ripen rate and 1000-grain weight were also recorded at harvest. RUEy was calculated as the ratio of grain yield to the total intercepted solar radiation (LIsum), which in turn was the product of the total incoming radiation and the mean light interception rate (MLI). The MLI value of rice canopy, although significantly different among the test varieties, was unstable across the range of the experiments. Both the estimates of heritability (intra-variety correlation) and genetic gain of MLI were low from a combined analysis on the pooled data. When data were analyzed separately for each of the two crop seasons, however, the estimates of these two genetic parameters of MLI raised remarkably. It revealed that varieties with high MLI value might best be identified under the conditions of applying 180 Kg nitrogen per hectare in the second crop season or applying no nitrogen in the first crop season. As expected, many characteristics of the rice canopy were significantly correlated with MLI. Among them, the LAI at heading, which showed high heritability and genetic gain, was correlated with MLI very closely. This suggested that selection for variety with high MLI could be accomplished by the way of selection for LAI at heading. When grown with no nitrogen fertilizer or with 180 Kg nitrogen per hectare in the second crop season, the MLI of the test varieties showed a clear decreasing trend over the time the varieties were released. Such a time trend was not detected in the first crop season. Besides, no significant evolution pattern in the mean light interception efficiency (LIE), i.e., the ratio of MLI to LAI, was observed in the range of the experiments. In other words, the older varieties showed higher MLI but not higher LIE. All the test varieties gave higher values of RUEy in the first crop season than in the second crop season. The varieties released in recent years showed higher RUEy when they were fertilized with more nitrogen. But, the reverse was true for the old varieties. No significant GxE interaction was found in the analysis of variance of RUEy, which indicated that RUEy was a rather stable character of the rice varieties released in Taiwan. However, higher estimates of the heritability and genetic gain of RUEy were obtained when these varieties were fertilized with nitrogen in the second crop season. This suggested an efficient environmental condition for the selection of varieties with high RUEy. No significant correlation was detected between RUEy and other canopy characteristics investigated in this study. In general, the test varieties showed an increasing time trend of RUEy in respect to their breeding era . This trend was absent when these varieties were grown with no nitrogen fertilizer. To elucidate the varietal variation of grain yield and RUEy, grain yield was expressed as the product of LIsum and RUEy, which in turn was expressed as the product of radiation use efficiency of total dry matter production (RUEtdw) and harvest index (i.e., ratio of grain yield to total dry matter production, HI). The variance of grain yield was mainly accounted for by LIsum when the varieties were fertilized with 90 Kg nitrogen per hectare. However, RUEy took the role in determining the variation of grain yield when these varieties were fertilized with 180 Kg nitrogen per hectare or no nitrogen fertilization. On the other hand, contribution of RUEtdw to the varietal variance of RUEy was much higher than HI across the treatment levels of nitrogen rate. In sum, grain yield of a variety was mainly determined by its RUEy, which in turn was affected greatly by the RUEtdw of the variety when it was fertilized with certain amount of nitrogen. As a provision to develop the discriminant functions for RUEy, the test varieties were clustered, by a nonhierarchical clustering algorithm, into three to five groups according to their RUEy values evaluated in each of the six treatment combinations of the two crop seasons by the three levels of nitrogen rate. The optimal number of variety group was determined so as to maximize the among-group variance and to minimize the within-group variance of RUEy simultaneously. The result showed that the test varieties could adequately be separated into three groups except the treatments with 90 Kg nitrogen per hectare, which a four- group clustering seemed optimal. A set of two discriminat functions for RUEy were established for each of the six treatment combinations. Owing to their significant ability in identifying the varieties with low RUEy, a breeding program would be much more efficient to improve the RUEy of rice varieties if these discriminant functions were employed.

O presente estudo pretende contribuir para a avaliação da influência de diferentes níveis de adubação azotada nas características agrometeorológicas de desenvolvimento e crescimento do sorgo forrageiro de regadio, nas condições edafo-climáticas do Nordeste Transmontano. Analisou-se o efeito de quatro níveis de azoto no solo na forma como o crescimento e desenvolvimento do sorgo respondem à temperatura e à radiação solar, nomeadamente em termos de crescimento em altura, evolução do número de folhas, índice de área foliar, produção de biomassa, e extracção de azoto. Esta avaliação é feita em termos dos tempos térmicos de desenvolvimento, da eficiência de utilização da radiação para a produção de matéria seca e da eficiência de utilização do azoto. O estudo decorreu na Quinta de Sta. Apolónia, em Bragança, durante 1997, 1998 e 1999, com a variedade de sorgo híbrido forrageiro Sweet Sioux IV. A aplicação de azoto aumentou as áreas foliares, a intercepção da radiação e a produção de biomassa. Contudo, aplicações de N superiores a 400 kg ha-1 não devem ser ultrapassados porque não aportam um aumento significativo de produtividade nem um aumento importante de eficiência de utilização da radiação solar, e reduzem as eficiências de recuperação e de utilização do azoto. The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of distinct levels of soil nitrogen fertilization on the agrometeorological characteristics of development and growth of irrigated fodder sorghum in the Nordeste Transmontano (Northeastern Portugal). The effects of four levels of soil nitrogen fertilization on the responses of sorghum development and to temperature and solar radiation were analysed, namely crop height, leaf number, leaf area, biomass and nitrogen uptake. This assessment is based on the thermal time for development, on the radiation use efficiency for dry mater production and on the efficiency of nitrogen utilization. The experiments were carried out in Quinta de Sta. Apolónia, Bragança, in 1997, 1998 and 1999, with the hybrid fodder sorghum variety Sweet Sioux IV. Nitrogen fertilization increased leaf area, radiation interception and biomass production. However, nitrogen fertilization rates above 400 kg ha-1 should not be used because they do not lead to a significant increases of both yield and radiation use efficiency, and they reduce the efficiencies of nitrogen recovery and utilization.

Dissecting the soybean grain yield (GY) to approach it as a sum of its associated processes seems a viable approach to explore this trait considering its complex multigenic nature. Monteith (1972, 1977) first defined potential yield as the result of three physiological efficiencies: light interception (Ei), radiation use efficiency (RUE) and harvest index (HI). Though this rationality is not recent, few works assessing these three efficiencies as strategies to improve crops have been carried out. This thesis approaches yield from the perspective of Ei, RUE, and HI to better understand yield as the result of genetic and physiological processes. This study reveals the phenotypic variation, heritability, genetic architecture, and genetic relationships for Ei, RUE, and HI and their relationships with GY and other physiological and phenological variables. Similarly, genomic prediction is presented as a viable strategy to partially overcome the tedious phenotyping of these traits. A large panel of 383 soybean recombinant inbred lines (RIL) with significant yield variation but shrinkage maturity was evaluated in three field environments. Ground measurements of dry matter, photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), stomatal conductance (gs), leaf area index (LAI) and phenology (R1, R5, R8) were measured. Likewise, RGB imagery from an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) were collected with high frequency (~12 days) to estimate the canopy dynamic through the canopy coverage (CC). Light interception was modeled through a logistic curve using CC as a proxy and later compared with the seasonal cumulative solar radiation collected from weather stations to calculate Ei. The total above ground biomass collected during the growing season and its respective cumulative light intercepted were used to derive RUE through linear models fitting, while apparent HI was calculated through the ratio seeds dry matter vs total above-ground dry matter. Additive-genetic correlations, genome wide association (GWA) and whole genome regressions (WGR) were performed to determine the relationship between traits, their association with genomic regions, and the feasibility of predicting these efficiencies through genomic information. Our results revealed moderate to high phenotypic variation for Ei, RUE, and HI. Additive-genetic correlation showed a strong relationship of GY with HI and moderate with RUE and Ei when the whole data set was considered, but negligible contribution of HI on GY when just the top 100 yielding RILs were analyzed. High genetic correlation to grain yield (GY) was also observed for A (0.87) and E (0.67), suggesting increase in GY can be achieved through the improvement of A or E. The GWA analyses showed that Ei is associated with three SNPs; two of them located on chromosome 7 and one on chromosome 11 with no previous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) reported for these regions. RUE is associated with four SNPs on chromosomes 1, 7, 11, and 18. Some of these QTLs are novel, while others are previously documented for plant architecture and chlorophyll content. Two SNPs positioned on chromosome 13 and 15 with previous QTLs reported for plant height and seed set, weight and abortion were associated with HI. WGR showed high predictive ability for Ei, RUE, and HI with maximum correlation ranging between 0.75 to 0.80. Both directed and undirected multivariate explanatory models indicate that HI has a strong relationship with A, average growth rate of canopy coverage for the first 40 days after planting (AGR40), seed-filling (SFL), and reproductive length (RL). According to the path analysis, increase in one standard unit of HI promotes changes in 0.5 standard units of GY, while changes in the same standard unit of RUE, and Ei produce increases on GY of 0.20 and 0.19 standard units. This study presents novel genetic knowledge for Ei, RUE, HI and GY along with a set of tools that may contribute to the development of new cultivars with enhanced light interception, light conversion and optimized dry matter partitioning in soybean. This work not only complements the physiological knowledge already available with the genetic control of traits directly associated with yield, but also represents a pioneer attempt to integrate traditional physiological traits into the breeding process in the context of physiological breeding

碩士
中原大學
電機工程研究所
102
This paper describes how to enhanced radiating capability of Surface-attached type diode to improve power efficiency, due to the development of electronic components integrated circuit technology, like resistors, capacitors, diodes and transistors…etc, have been reduced their weights and body conspicuously. In particular, surface-attached type diode can save more spaces in PCB circuit layout than DIP diodes. In this paper, we compared surface-attached type diode with traditional package, and found the surface-attached type diode package structure can improve power efficiency indeed. Traditional diode package structure is required to provide power transmission, signal transmission, radiation and other functions, but along with the reduction of package size, it faced the limited with its rated current and in the meanwhile the thermal dissipation area is also reduced. Therefore, how to enhanced radiating capability becomes the major issue. This paper tries to add the thermal pad in small surface-attached type diode to make the radiating capability of it is better than traditional package and improve the power efficiency.