The present research work focused on predicting the electrical conductivity (EC) of surface water in the Upper Ganga basin using four machine learning algorithms: multilayer perceptron (MLP), co-adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (CANFIS), random forest (RF), and decision tree (DT). The study also utilized the gamma test for selecting appropriate input and output combinations. The results of the gamma test revealed that total hardness (TH), magnesium (Mg), and chloride (Cl) parameters were suitable input variables for EC prediction. The performance of the models was evaluated using statistical indices such as Percent Bias (PBIAS), correlation coefficient (R), Willmott’s index of agreement (WI), Index of Agreement (PI), root mean square error (RMSE) and Legate-McCabe Index (LMI). Comparing the results of the EC models using these statistical indices, it was observed that the RF model outperformed the other algorithms. During the training period, the RF algorithm has a small positive bias (PBIAS = 0.11) and achieves a high correlation with the observed values (R = 0.956). Additionally, it shows a low RMSE value (360.42), a relatively good coefficient of efficiency (CE = 0.932), PI (0.083), WI (0.908) and LMI (0.083). However, during the testing period, the algorithm’s performance shows a small negative bias (PBIAS = − 0.46) and a good correlation (R = 0.929). The RMSE value decreases significantly (26.57), indicating better accuracy, the coefficient of efficiency remains high (CE = 0.915), PI (0.033), WI (0.965) and LMI (− 0.028). Similarly, the performance of the RF algorithm during the training and testing periods in Prayagraj. During the training period, the RF algorithm shows a PBIAS of 0.50, indicating a small positive bias. It achieves an RMSE of 368.3, R of 0.909, CE of 0.872, PI of 0.015, WI of 0.921, and LMI of 0.083. During the testing period, the RF algorithm demonstrates a slight negative bias with a PBIAS of − 0.06. The RMSE reduces significantly to 24.1, indicating improved accuracy. The algorithm maintains a high correlation (R = 0.903) and a good coefficient of efficiency (CE = 0.878). The index of agreement (PI) increases to 0.035, suggesting a better fit. The WI is 0.960, indicating high accuracy compared to the mean value, while the LMI decreases slightly to − 0.038. Based on the comparative results of the machine learning algorithms, it was concluded that RF performed better than DT, CANFIS, and MLP. The study recommended using the current month’s total hardness (TH), magnesium (Mg), and chloride (Cl) parameters as input variables for multi-ahead forecasting of electrical conductivity (EC_t+1, EC_t+2, and EC_t+3) in future studies in the Upper Ganga basin. The findings also indicated that RF and DT models had superior performance compared to MLP and CANFIS models. These models can be applied for multi-ahead forecasting of monthly electrical conductivity at both Varanasi and Prayagraj stations in the Upper Ganga basin.

Maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) is a staple food crop in the world. Drought is one of the most common abiotic challenges that maize faces when it comes to growth, development, and production. Further knowledge of drought tolerance could aid with maize production. However, there has been less study focused on investigating in depth the drought tolerance of inbred maize lines using artificial intelligence techniques. In this study, multi-layer perceptron (MLP), support vector machine (SVM), genetic algorithm-based multi-layer perceptron (MLP-GA), and genetic algorithm-based support vector machine (SVM-GA) hybrid artificial intelligence algorithms were used for the prediction of drought tolerance and stress tolerance indices in teosinte maize lines. Correspondingly, the gamma test technique was applied to determine efficient input and output vectors. The potential of the developed models was evaluated based on statistical indices and graphical representations. The results of the gamma test based on the least value of gamma and standard error indices show that days of anthesis (DOA), days of silking (DOS), yield index (YI), and gross yield per plant (GYP) information vector arrangements were determined to be an efficient information vector combination for the drought-tolerance index (DTI) as well as the stress-tolerance index (STI). The MLP, SVM, MLP-GA, and SVM-GA algorithms’ results were compared based on statistical indices and visual interpretations that have satisfactorily predict the drought-tolerance index and stress-tolerance index in maize crops. The genetic algorithm-based hybrid models (MLP-GA and SVM-GA) were found to better predict the drought-tolerance index and stress-tolerance index in maize crops. Similarly, the SVM-GA model was found to have the highest potential to forecast the DTI and STI in maize crops, compared to the MLP, SVM, and MLP-GA models.

Maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) is the staple food crop in the world. In this study, multi-layer perceptron (MLP), support vector machine (SVM), genetic algorithm-based multi-layer perceptron (MLP-GA), and genetic algorithm-based support vector machine (SVM-GA) hybrid artificial intelligence algorithms were used for the prediction of drought tolerance and stress tolerance indices in teosinte maize lines. Correspondingly, the gamma test technique was applied to determine efficient input and output vectors. The potential of developed models was evaluated based on statistical indices and graphical representation. Results of gamma test based on the least value of gamma and standard error indices show that day of anthesis (DOA), day of silking (DOS), yield index (YI), and gross yield per plant (GYP) information vector arrangements were determined as efficient information vector combination for drought-tolerant index (DTI) as well as the stress-tolerant index (STI). The results of MLP, SVM, MLP-GA, and SVM-GA algorithms were compared based on statistical indices and visual interpretation that have satisfactory for prediction of the drought-tolerant index and stress-tolerant index in maize crop. It has also seemed that genetic algorithm-based hybrid models (MLP-GA and SVM-GA) were found a better prediction of the drought-tolerant index and stress-tolerant index in maize crop. Similarly, the SVM-GA model has the highest potential to forecast the DTI and STI in maize crops as compared to MLP, SVM, MLP-GA models.