Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop, but its sustainable production is significantly hampered due to the presence of various edaphic stresses. Understanding the variability in root morphological traits among diverse barley genotypes is critical for selecting those with suitable root traits for breeding new cultivars better adapted to stress environments. Root morphological traits in an early growth stage (30 days after transplanting) in a panel of 189 barley genotypes (mostly advanced breeding lines) were assessed using a semi-hydroponic phenotyping platform followed by a validation experiment of eight genotypes with contrasting root systems in two soils. The phenotyping experiment showed large variation (coefficient of variation values ≥ 0.25) in 16 of 26 measured root and shoot traits. A strong correlation among most of the selected traits was identified. Principal component analysis indicated four principal components (eigenvalues >1) captured 79.5% of the total variation. Root traits, including total root length, root length at various depths, root diameter and root length ratio (top 20 cm vs. lower section), could be considered in the barley breeding programs. Consistent ranking of the selected eight genotypes based on root biomass and root length in both the semi-hydroponic system and the columns with two different soils confirmed root trait performance in different growth environments as well as the reliability of the phenotyping method. This study identified phenotypic variability in root morphological traits in barley genotypes in the early growth stage. The genotypic variability in root traits represents a basis for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and molecular markers, particularly focused on breeding lines with optimal root properties for the efficient acquisition of soil resources and adaptation to drought and other abiotic stresses.

In 2013, the government officially approved the construction task of developing high-standard farmland, which had been written into the outline of the “12th Five-Year Plan”, the “13th Five-Year Plan” and the “14th Five-Year Plan”, effectively ensuring the sustainable development of farmland with high and stable yield in China. Moreover, with the rapid progress of urbanization and industrialization, the quality and usage of cultivated land have changed greatly, and the relationship between the economic value, social value and ecological value of land has become increasingly prominent. Whether the development of high-standard farmland, especially the high-standard farmland used for grain production, has achieved the goals of increasing farmers’ income, agricultural output and rural development is not clear. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the comprehensive benefits of high-standard farmland development in grain production, so as to scientifically measure the results of the development. From the perspective of economic, social and ecological benefits, this paper establishes an entropy weight evaluation index system and a model to evaluate the level and effectiveness of high-standard farmland development from 2013 to 2020 in China. The results show that the high-standard farmland development project has improved the yield of grain and the basic productivity of cultivated land, effectively increased the yields of land in the project area and promoted the protection and improvement of cultivated land quality, which includes soil quality improvement, soil fertility enhancement, pollution control and soil remediation. The project also helped raise the farmers’ income levels and improved farmers’ agricultural knowledge and skills in the project area. The projects are very beneficial for agricultural production, the farmers’ income and rural development. However, there is still a certain gap between the national average level of improvement and the original goal set in the policy. The average grain yield per mu (Note: 1 mu ≈ 0.0667 ha, similarly hereinafter) was expected to be increased by less than 100 kg (the national average was a 40 kg increase), and the degrees of improvement in economic, social, ecological and comprehensive benefits in different project types were also different. In the future, we suggest that the project should be implemented according to local conditions and the features of each region. We should pay attention to the protection of basic farmland quality and further improve grain output to achieve the goal of stabilizing and increasing production.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of corn straw and mulberry leaves on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of sheep.Methods: Corn straw and mulberry leaves were mixed in six different ratios as culture substrates: 100:0 (T0), 80:20 (T20), 60:40 (T40), 40: 60 (T60), 20:80 (T80) and 0:100 (T100). Rumen fluid from small-tailed Han sheep was collected, and artificial saliva was prepared. Gas production (GP) parameters, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), microbial crude protein (MCP) and additional indicators of in vitro rumen fluid fermentations were measured over 72 h. Combinations with a positive multiple-factors associative effect index were chosen for a 65 d in vivo feeding experiment, during which the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and liver antioxidant function were evaluated.Results: Mulberry leaves exhibited a positive correlation with in vitro theoretical maximum GP, cumulative GP, MCP, and organic matter digestibility. At 72 h, total VFA and acetic acid were significantly higher in the T60, T80, and T100 groups (p<0.05). Additionally, at 6 h, 12 h, and 72 h, the NH3-N of the T60, T80, and T100 groups were significantly higher (p<0.05). The T20, T60, and T80 combinations were selected for sheep feeding, and T60 got the highest increase in average daily feed intake (p<0.05). Moreover, the thickness of the rib and back muscle were notably increased in the T60 and T80 groups (p<0.05). Water-holding capacity of the longissimus dorsi muscle was higher and drip loss was lower in the combination-fed groups, particularlly in the T20 and T60 groups (p<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen levels decreased with increasing mulberry leaf content (p<0.05). Furthermore, the T60 and T80 groups demonstrated higher α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radical scavenging ability (p<0.05). Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the sheep liver were also notably enhanced (p<0.05).Conclusion: The combination of corn straw and mulberry leaves had a positive synergistic effect on improving feed intake, muscle thickness, muscle water retention, and the liver antioxidant capacity in sheep. The ratios of 40:60 corn straw to mulberry leaves showed the most beneficial effects. This combination provides a practical method for utilizing agricultural waste and optimizing sheep diets.

The efficient and accurate collection of agricultural product market information serves as the basis for the effective regulation of agricultural product markets. To achieve a comprehensive, accurate, and timely collection of agricultural product market information, this study puts forth a technique for collecting holographic information of agricultural product markets. A portable human-machine interaction device with an Advanced RISC (reduced instruction set computer) Machines (ARM)-based processor as the core is developed. Holographic information such as agricultural product market trading time, trading place, product name, price, and trading volume can be collected. Via embedded technology and component technology, innovative agricultural product market positioning, and matching, standardized collection, and data processing, and in combination with intelligent algorithms for analysis and early warning, a mobile application terminal for information collection is developed, namely, a holographic information collector for agricultural product markets (named Nongxincai). By using a layered structure, the hardware integrates microprocessor, storage, power, application and communication interface, and human-machine interaction modules. The device has the advantages of miniaturization, the whole-machine power consumption of less than 0.5 W, and continuous operating time of at least 10 h. A supporting software system for Nongxincai has also been developed, in which Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 is employed as the operating system, and the CPU frequency is up to 600 MHz. This configuration fully meets the computing requirements of map processing and large-volume data processing and has high compatibility. Nongxincai has been popularized and applied in 12 provinces/municipalities in China. It has played an important role in the monitoring and early warning of different varieties of agricultural products and target prices of soybean and cotton. Keywords: agricultural product market, holographic information, portable, user-interactive, information collector, monitoring and early warning DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201303.5845 Citation: Xu S W, Li D H, Zhang Y E, Chen W, Zhuang J Y, Liu J J, et al. Development of portable user-interactive holographic information collector for agricultural product markets. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(3): 143–153.

Meteorological factors have major impact on crop productivity in the world. Many researchers have evaluated the possible impact of climate change on crop yields using models. Here we use a 1980–2015panel dataset from China Agricultural Cost and Return Yearbook to investigate the meteorological impact on Chinese Japonica rice yield growth. We find that average temperature has significantly positive effect on rice yields; while maximum temperature and minimum temperature have negative effect on rice yield. Physicalinputs and time trend (technological progress) into the crop yield have an accurate estimation on crop yields. Means including irrigation or drainage could use during growing season.