1.
Article Title: Optimization Design of a Pneumatic Wheat-Shooting Device Based on Numerical Simulation and Field Test in Rice–Wheat Rotation Areas
基于数值模拟与田间试验的稻麦轮作区气动小麦射播装置优化设计
Authors: Chao Wang; Hongwen Li; Jin He; Qingjie Wang; Caiyun Lu; Hanyu Yang
Source Title: AGRICULTURE-BASEL
Volume: 12 Issue: 56
Publication Year: 2022
Abstract: In rice-wheat rotation areas of China, traditional wheat seeders have severe blockage, low working efficiency and poor seeding quality. In this study, a pneumatic shooting technology was designed, consisting mainly of a nozzle, shell and acceleration tube. To improve the sowing depth of the pneumatic shooting device, the response-surface methodology of structure parameters and CFD simulation technology was adopted in this work. The effects of working pressure, acceleration-tube diameter and throat distance on the steady airflow length (SAL) and steady airflow velocity (SAV) were studied by airflow field analysis, and the response-surface method was introduced to obtain the optimal parameter combination of the pneumatic shooting device for wheat. The optimal parameter combination was working pressure 686 kPa, acceleration tube diameter 8 mm and throat distance 20 mm. The simulation result showed that the optimized device of pneumatic shooting performs faster and has more stable airflow field characteristics in comparison to the initial device. The field test demonstrated that the optimized device has about 68% higher seeding depth than the initial device. The average field-seeding depth of the optimized device was 19.95 mm, which is about 68% higher than the initial device. The emergence rate for the optimized device was about 88.7% without obvious reduction. CFD and response-surface methods positively affect the optimization of pneumatic wheat-shooting devices, and the significance was also confirmed.
2.
Article Title: A Tillage Depth Monitoring and Control System for the Independent Adjustment of Each Subsoiling Shovel
基于单个深松铲独立调节的耕深监控系统
Authors: Shangyi Lou; Jin He; Caiyun Lu; Peng Liu; Hui Li; Zhenguo Zhang
Source Title: ACTUATORS
Volume: 10 Issue: 250
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: In rice–wheat rotation areas of China, traditional wheat seeders have severe blockage, low working efficiency and poor seeding quality. In this study, a pneumatic shooting technology was designed, consisting mainly of a nozzle, shell and acceleration tube. To improve the sowing depth of the pneumatic shooting device, the response-surface methodology of structure parameters and CFD simulation technology was adopted in this work. The effects of working pressure, acceleration-tube diameter and throat distance on the steady airflow length (SAL) and steady airflow velocity (SAV) were studied by airflow field analysis, and the response-surface method was introduced to obtain the optimal parameter combination of the pneumatic shooting device for wheat. The optimal parameter combination was working pressure 686 kPa, acceleration tube diameter 8 mm and throat distance 20 mm. The simulation result showed that the optimized device of pneumatic shooting performs faster and has more stable airflow field characteristics in comparison to the initial device. The field test demonstrated that the optimized device has about 68% higher seeding depth than the initial device. The average field-seeding depth of the optimized device was 19.95 mm, which is about 68% higher than the initial device. The emergence rate for the optimized device was about 88.7% without obvious reduction. CFD and response-surface methods positively affect the optimization of pneumatic wheat-shooting devices, and the significance was also confirmed.
3.
Article Title: Current Knowledge and Future Directions for Improving Subsoiling Quality and Reducing Energy Consumption in Conservation Fields
保护性耕作地块提高深松质量和减少能耗的研究现状与展望
Authors: Lou, Shangyi; He, Jin; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Caiyun; Liu, Wenzheng; Liu, Peng; Zhang, Zhenguo; Li, Hui
Source Title: AGRICULTURE-BASEL
Volume: 11 Issue: 7
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: Subsoiling has been acknowledged worldwide to break compacted hardpan, improve soil permeability and water storage capacity, and promote topsoil deepening and root growth. However, there exist certain factors which limit the wide in-field application of subsoiling machines. Of these factors, the main two are poor subsoiling quality and high energy consumption, especially the undesired tillage depth obtained in the field with cover crops. Based on the analysis of global adoption and benefits of subsoiling technology, and application status of subsoiling machines, this article reviewed the research methods, technical characteristics, and developing trends in five key aspects, including subsoiling shovel design, anti-drag technologies, technologies of tillage depth detection and control, and research on soil mechanical interaction. Combined with the research progress and application requirements of subsoiling machines across the globe, current problems and technical difficulties were analyzed and summarized. Aiming to solve these problems, improve subsoiling quality, and reduce energy consumption, this article proposed future directions for the development of subsoiling machines, including optimizing the soil model in computer simulation, strengthening research on the subsoiling mechanism and comprehensive effect, developing new tillage depth monitoring and control systems, and improving wear-resisting properties of subsoiling shovels.
4.
Article Title: DEM - CFD coupling simulation and optimization of a self-suction wheat shooting device
基于DEM-CFD耦合的自吸种小麦射播排种器仿真与优化
Authors: Wang, Yingbo; Li, Hongwen; Hu, Hongnan; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Caiyun; Liu, Peng; He, Dong; Lin, Xin
Source Title: POWDER TECHNOLOGY
Volume: 393 Pages: 494-509
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: Planting performance is essential for wheat seeders and reliable seed germination. The seed-filling effect is also important in the sowing performance. In this study, a self-suction wheat shooting device was developed to im-prove the seed-filling performance. In specific, the shooting device structure was optimized, in which negative pressure was generated in the inner cavity of the device. A DEM-CFD coupling simulation experiment was con-ducted to investigate the seed-filling and shooting performance. The effect of three working parameters (rota-tional speed of shooting device, window length and window width of directional seed delivery wheel) on the coefficient of variation of the seed-filling performance (CVSF), average shooting speed (ASS), average shooting depth (ASD) and drag force (DF) were analyzed. Afterward, a validation experiment was conducted to investigate the shooting performance of the self-suction shooting device. The results showed that the shooting performance of the self-suction device under optimized operation parameters could fully meet the shooting requirements of winter wheat in the North China plain. In specific, the coefficient of variation of the seed amount (CVSA), ASD and ASS of self-suction shooting device were 7.1%, 30.9 mm and 33.5 m/s at the rotational speed, window length and window width were 1200 rpm, 35 mm and 60 mm, respectively. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
5.
Article Title: DESIGN AND TEST EVALUATION OF THE SUBSOILER EQUIPPED WITH TILLAGE DEPTH MONITORING AND CONTROL SUBSOILING ASSEMBLIES
配备耕深监测和控制组件的深松机的设计和试验评估
Authors: Lou Shangyi; He Jin; Li Hongwen; Wang Qingjie; Lu Caiyun; Wu Yihang; Liu Peng; Li Hui
Source Title: INMATEH-Agricultural Engineering
Volume: 65 Issue: 3 Pages: 139-152
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: Aiming at solving problems that the variation of tillage depth between rows and within rows caused by the surface undulation was great, the lateral stability of tillage depth obtained by the method of adjusting at the three-point suspension was poor, and lack of subsoilers with the function of accurate detection and adjustment of single row tillage depth, a method of independent control of single row tillage depth based on ultrasonic sensor detection and hydraulic adjustment was proposed. And the tillage depth monitoring and control subsoiling assembly and the subsoiler equipped with subsoiling assemblies were designed. The key structural parameters of the hydraulic cylinder and the model of the three-position four-way magnetic exchange valve were determined. The subsoiling quality and performance comparison tests were conducted, and the results showed that the mean value of the variable coefficient of soil hardness, looseness of soil and coefficient of soil disturbance were 52.23%, 32.55% and 62.15%, respectively, and the stability coefficient of tillage depth was 92.43%, which all met the subsoiling operation requirements. The standard deviation of tillage depth belonged to the method of independent adjustment of single row and unified adjustment of each row were 38.315mm and 51.521mm, respectively. The subsoiler equipped with tillage depth monitoring and control subsoiling assemblies designed in this paper was capable of significantly improving the stability of tillage depth between rows and within rows.
6.
Article Title: Development and Performance Evaluation of a Precise Application System for Liquid Starter Fertilizer while Sowing Maize
玉米播种液态肥精准施肥系统研究与性能测试
Authors: Changchang Yu; Qingjie Wang; Xinpeng Cao; Xiuhong Wang; Shan Jiang; Shaojun Gong
Source Title: ACTUATORS
Volume: 10 Issue: 221
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: At present, liquid starter fertilizer (LSF) application technologies experience problems with low fertilizer utilization efficiency. In this study, we adopted a method of precise application of LSF near the seeds on seed bed in point form during sowing. A precise application system that can detect seed information in real time and control the solenoid valve to open automatically was developed for this method. The LSF supply system and detection control system were studied in detail. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the precise application system in terms of operation quality (qualified index of the length of the LSF, QIL; the amount of the LSF, FA; and qualified index of the distance between the seeds and the LSF, QID) at forward speeds of 4, 6, and 8 km/h and pressures of 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30 MPa. The results indicated that QIL was 96.4%, the range of FA was 1.34 to 13.86 mL, and QID was 82.6%, which signifies the developed system meets the demands of precise LSF application. This method achieves the target of improving fertilizer use efficiency and provides a reference for developing fertilization devices for precisely applying LSF.
7.
Article Title: Effects of various edge-curve types and rotational speeds of disc blades on breaking force and energy consumption in the maize stalk chopping process
多种刃型和转速的圆盘刀片对玉米秸秆切碎过程中破断力和能耗的影响
Authors: Peng Liu; Jin He; Hongwen Li; Qingjie Wang; Caiyun Lu; Shangyi Lou; Yingbo Wang; Han Lin; Hui Li; Zhenguo Zhang
Source Title: APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE
Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Pages: 951-965
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: The mechanized retention of stalks is the primary method to avoid open burning. However, the variation in the breaking force and energy consumption in the chopping process of mechanized retention must be clarified. Therefore, based on the finite element method (FEM) and field validation experiments, the effects of various edge-curve types and rotational speeds of disc blades for maize stalk retention on the breaking force and energy consumption were examined. The test indices were the peak breaking force of the rind (PBFR) and stalk (PBFS), energy consumption of stalk chopping (ECSC), and energy transmission efficiency (ETE). The test factors were the spiral disc blade type (Archimedean, logarithmic, and sinusoidal-exponential spiral), slide-cutting angles of the disc blade tip (SADBT, 30°, 40°, 50°, and 60°), rotational speed of the Y-type blade (RSYB, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, 2200, and 2400 rpm), and transmission ratio between Y-type and disc blades (TRYDB, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0). The chopping process was divided into the cutting processes of the initial rind, rind and pith, final rind, and stalk end. The results showed that the SADBT, TRYDB, and RSYB had significant effects on the PBFR, PBFS, ECSC, and ETE. The most influential factor on all test indices was the TRYDB. The RSYB positively affected the PBFR, PBFS, and ECSC. The growth rates of the PBFR, PBFS, and ECSC increased with the TRYDB. The maximum PBFR, PBFS, and ETE values were obtained under an SADBT of 60°, and the maximum ECSC value was obtained under an SADBT of 40°. The difference in energy consumption between the field validation experiment and simulation was less than 10%, which proved the correct results of the FEM simulation.
8.
Article Title: Experiment and parameters optimization of seed distributor of mechanical wheat shooting seed-metering device.
机械式小麦射播排种器分种装置参数优化与试验
Authors: Wang YingBo; Li HongWen; Wang QingJie; He Jin; Lu CaiYun; Yang QingLu; Liu Peng
Source Title: INMATEH-Agricultural Engineering
Volume: 63 Issue: 1 Pages: 29-40
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: In order to solve the problems of lower seed-filling stability and wheat seed damage of mechanical shooting seed-metering device, the filling structure of shooting device was optimized. The effects of seed movement were obtained through analyzing the kinematics and dynamics of wheat seed through the seed distributor. The influence factors were the inner diameter of the seed distributor, the rotation speed of the seed distributor and the inclination angle of distributor window. Moreover, the structural parameters of the seed distributor were optimized. Inclination window of seed distributor was obtained to increase shooting speed and seed filling performance. The EDEM discrete element software was used to simulate the motion process to explore the different factors on the internal wheat seed movement in shooting device, which five seed distributors in different inclination parameters were designed. The coefficient of variation of shooting uniformity and shooting speed of wheat seed were selected as test indicators. The orthogonal test results showed the primary and secondary order of influencing factors for each test index. For the coefficient of variation of shooting uniformity, the order was rotation speed of seed distributor, inner diameter of seed distributor and inclination angle of distributor window. For the shooting speed, the order was rotation speed of seed distributor, inclination angle of distributor window and inner diameter of seed distributor. Furthermore, a verification experiment was evaluated in Conservation tillage research center of China Agricultural University, in 2020. Seed-metering device was manufactured by resin material by 3D printing, and high-speed camera was taken to obtain wheat seed movement and shooting speed. The verification test showed that the uniform variation coefficient of the seeding amount and average shooting depth was 8.6% and 32 mm, respectively, while the inner diameter of the seed distributor, inclination angle of the distributor window and rotation speed was 125 mm, 25° and 1,100 r/min, respectively. With a shooting speed of 34.7 m/s to meet shooting requirements in North China Plain (over 30 mm), this study provides a new solution for the optimization of mechanical shooting seed-metering device.
9.
Article Title: Optimization of operating parameters of seeding device in plot drill with seeding control system
具有播种控制系统的小区播种机运行参数优化研究
Authors: Cheng, Xiupei; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Caiyun; Wang, Yingbo; Wang, Chao; Wang, Chunlei; Lou, Shangyi
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Pages: 83-91
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: Plot drill has a significant impact on field breeding by replacing manual seeding. However, the seeding performance of plot drill needs to be further improved as the mechanical transmission method cannot work under the optimal combination of operating parameters. In this study, a cone compartment tray of sowing device was evaluated under the laboratory conditions, using a self-designed seeding control system to adjust the operating parameters. Among them, a plot seeding control system was involved that could set operating parameters through an Android terminal, which effectively reduced the difficulty of parameters adjustment. The method of central composite experiment design was employed to conduct experiments and explore the effects of experiment factors such as lifting height of storage tube (LHST), rotation speed of cone compartment tray (RSCCT), and rotation speed seed distributor (RSSD) on the seeding uniformity coefficient of variation among rows (SUCVR) and the rate of damaged seeds (RDS). For SUCVR of wheat, the results showed that the importance order of main factors from high to low was RSSD, RSCCT and LHST. And for SUCVR of buckwheat, RSCCT had the largest influence, followed by RSSD, and LHST had the smallest influence. For RDS of wheat and buckwheat, only RSSD had a very significant effect among the main factors. The experiments data of wheat indicated that when operated at 27.2 mm for LHST, 4.5 r/min for RSCCT and 1169 r/min for RSSD, the sowing performance of wheat was optimal, with SUCVR and RDS values of 5.02% and 0.117%, respectively. The buckwheat seeding performance was found to be optimal when the LHST, RSCCT and RSSD were 26.5 mm, 3.9 r/min and 711 r/min, and SUCVR and RDS were 4.74% and 0.113%. The seeding control system realized the electromechanical control of the seeding equipment, was convenient for parameter setting and stepless adjustment, and could be operated under an optimized combination of operating parameters. The research results could provide a reference for the performance improvement and application of plot drill.
10.
Article Title: Transmission rules of ultrasonic at the contact interface between soil medium in farmland and ultrasonic excitation transducer
农田土壤介质与超声波激励换能器接触界面处的超声波传输规律研究
Authors: Huang, Shenghai; Lu, Caiyun; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Yuan, Panpan; Gao, Zhen; Wang, Yingbo
Source Title: COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
Volume: 190
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: To analyze the phenomenon of distortion and frequency dispersion in the ultrasonic pressure curve at the excitation transducer-soil contact interface (incident interface), a new method to study the ultrasonic propagation in farmland soil media based on DEM (discrete element method) was proposed in this paper. And its feasibility was verified through simulation and actual measurement equivalent experiments. The excitation amplitude, excitation frequency and soil compression ratio were used as influencing factors to carry out single factor experiments. The analysis was carried out from three aspects: the time domain and the frequency domain curve of the ultrasonic, and the microscopic characteristics of the soil particles near the interface. The experimental results show that the reduction of soil compression ratio, the increase of excitation frequency and amplitude can trigger the non-linear response of the soil, which will lead to the distortion of the ultrasonic waveform. Among them, the compression rate has the most significant influence on the distortion of the sound wave. When the compression ratio is 0%, the trough and the second peak disappear. When the compression ratio reaches 12%, the amplitude of the trough and the second peak are 424% and 749% of the compression ratio of 6%, which is far greater than the influence of other factors. As the excitation frequency increases from 20 kHz to 60 kHz, the ultrasonic frequency domain range increases from 0 to 40 kHz to 0-150 kHz, the dispersion phenomenon is enhanced, which leads to a more serious waveform distortion, while other factors have less influence on the dispersion phenomenon. Under the ultrasound, it is found that the soil particles have a hysteresis phenomenon, that is, the direction of the force and the velocity of the soil particles is inconsistent. And as the soil compression ratio decreases, the excitation frequency increases, the greater the excitation amplitude, the more serious the hysteresis phenomenon, and then causes more serious ultrasonic distortion. The research of ultrasonic waves at the transducer-soil interface is helpful to reveal the propagation law of ultrasonic waves in soil, which provides a theoretical reference for the improvement of the accuracy of ultrasonic testing instruments.
11.
Article Title: Wheel Deflection Control of Agricultural Vehicles with Four-Wheel Independent Omnidirectional Steering
四轮独立转向农用机械车轮偏转控制研究
Authors: Xu, Qimeng; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Quanyu; Wang, Chunlei
Source Title: ACTUATORS
Volume: 10 Issue: 12
Publication Year: 2021
Abstract: Due to the harsh working environment of wheeled agricultural vehicles in the field, it is difficult to ensure that all wheels make contact with the ground at the same time, which is easy to unequally distribute the yaw moments of each independent wheel. The commonly used vehicle lateral control methods are mostly controlled by coordinating the individual torque between different wheels. Obviously, this control method is not suitable for agricultural four-wheeled vehicles. The goal of this study was to provide a wheel steering angle control method that uses electric push rods as actuators that can cope with this problem. The design of a four-wheel steering controller generally adopts the linear PID control method, but the research object of this paper is difficult to establish an accurate and linear mathematical model due to the complex working environment. Therefore, fuzzy adjustment is added on the basis of PID control, which can meet the requirements of model difficulty and control accuracy at the same time. In order to verify the feasibility and rationality of the designed wheel steering mechanism, the model dynamics simulation based on ADAMS software and the response analysis of the electric linear actuator thrust were completed. Based on the kinematics model of the controlled object, the rotation angle of the actuator motor is used as the control target, the lateral deviation e and deviation variation ec are taken as input variables and the parameters K-P, K-I and K-D are taken as output variables, thereby establishing a fuzzy PID controller. Then, this controller is constructed in the Matlab/Simulink simulation environment to analyze the lateral deviation and response stability during the process of vehicle path tracking. From the verification results of the linear path walking test under the fuzzy PID control method, the maximum lateral deviation of vehicle chassis is 2.7 cm when the driving speed is set as 1 m/s, and the deviation adjustment stable time of the system is 0.15 s. It can be seen that the proposed steering control strategy has good response performance and effectively increases the steering stability.
12.
Article Title: Anti-blocking performance of ultrahigh-pressure waterjet assisted furrow opener for no-till seeder
基于超高压水射流的免耕播种机开沟器防堵性能研究
Authors: Hu, Hongnan; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Qingjie; He, Jin; Lu, Caiyun; Wang, Yingbo; Liu, Peng
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Pages: 64-70
Publication Year: 2020
Abstract: No-till planting method is widely used for maize-wheat two-crops-a-year area in the North China Plain. However, cruel soil conditions, especially the large number of maize stalks which are hard to cutoff covering, often cause an unsatisfying planting quality. Based on the authors' previous investigation, ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) waterjet is capable to solve this problem and obtain qualified seedbeds. Thus, a UHP waterjet assisted furrow opener for no-till seeder was designed. Field tests showed that double-disc furrow openers worked well with UHP waterjet, since the sharpened disc blades could help to cut soil and residue, meanwhile, minimize soil disturbance. Response surface method (RSM) was used to investigate the relationship among forward speed, waterjet pressure, jet impingement angle and anti-blocking performance (stalks cutoff ratio and depth of soil cutting), and a Box-Behnken three-factor design was used to identify the optional operation parameters. A total of 17 combinations were conducted, and the results showed all three operation parameters significantly affected anti-blocking performance. Stalks cutoff ratio and depth of soil cutting increased with the increase of waterjet pressure, jet impingement angle, and decreased with the increase of forward speed. The optimization analysis indicated that when waterjet pressure was 267-280 MPa, jet impingement angle was 80.2 degrees to 90.0 degrees and forward speed was 4.00-4.42 km/h, the overall performance of UHP waterjet assisted double-disc furrow opener for no-till seeder was maximized. Stalks cutoff ratio could be above 95% and no blockage occurred. This study may provide a new approach and reference for the anti-blocking technology of no-tillage seeding.
13.
Article Title: CFD Simulation and Optimization of a Pneumatic Wheat Seeding Device
基于CFD的气力式小麦播种机模拟与优化
Authors: Wang, Chao; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Jingxu; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Caiyun
Source Title: IEEE ACCESS
Volume: 8 Pages: 214007-214018
Publication Year: 2020
Abstract: To improve the performance of pneumatic wheat seeding devices with the goal of achieving pneumatic wheat seeding in soil conditions with high moisture content and heavy clay texture in rice-wheat rotation areas, a simulation optimization study of a pneumatic wheat seeding device was carried out using computational fluid dynamics. In this model, airflow was described by ANSYS Fluent software as a continuous compressible gas phase. The effects of accelerating air pressure, throat distance and nozzle diameter on the steady airflow velocity, the steady airflow length and the inlet 2 negative pressure of airflow field were studied, and a response surface analysis was applied to optimize the pneumatic wheat seeding device. The optimal parameter combination was achieved, which was an acceleration pressure of 700 kPa, a throat distance of 20 mm, a nozzle diameter of 7.2 mm and an acceleration pressure of 700 kPa. Comparative verification results showed that the steady airflow velocity, the steady airflow length and inlet 2 negative pressure of the optimized pneumatic wheat seeding device were 718 m/s, 182 mm and 0.49 kPa by simulations, which were 37%, 3% and 17% greater than those of the original device, respectively. This finding illustrates that the CFD model could describe the characteristics of airflow field well in a pneumatic seeding device and that the regression model for parameter optimization was reliable. Numerical simulation of the airflow field based on CFD approach can provide a theoretical basis for improving the operating performance of a pneumatic seeding device.
14.
Article Title: Design and experiment on the combined machine for variable straw chopping-cover and mixed-burying
变量秸秆覆盖混埋机设计与试验
Authors: Ju JiaWei; Zhou JingKai; He Jin; Li HongWen; Wang QingJie; Lu CaiYun; Peng Liu
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 29 Issue: 1
Publication Year: 2020
Abstract: A machine was designed to chop, spread and mixed-burying straw at one operation to cope with the different demands of mixed-burying. The main systems of the machine are chopped straw conveying system, straw chopping system and mixed-burying system. In this study, a variable adjusting device to adjust straw cover and bury ratio, and a fan L-shape blade to chop and spread straw were designed, and the characteristics of airflow velocity vector in the chopping system as well as the performance of the fan L-shape blade were all analyzed. The analyzed results showed that the fan L-shape blade had the advantages of improving qualified rate of straw chopping and the spreading uniformity of straw. As indicated in the field experiment under the condition of full covering, the uniformity rate of straw spreading was 87.63%, the qualification rate of straw chopping length was 92.78%, the surface roughness was 1.6 cm, the stability coefficient of tilling depth was 92.48% when the working velocity was 1 km/h. All the technical indicators of the machine succeed in meeting the technical requirements of related machines. This study is of importance for variable straw chopping-cover and mixed-burying.
15.
Article Title: Development and research of crop straw retention machine
作物秸秆还田机研究现状
Authors: Liu Peng; He Jin; Li HongWen; Wang QingJie; Lu CaiYun; Lou ShangYi; Bao XuanBin; Zhou JingKai
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 29 Issue: 1
Publication Year: 2020
Abstract: Crop straw retention is the main and effective method to improve soil quality, structure and prevent straw from open burning, and all these can be completed by crop straw retention machine. However, some factors limited the widespread application of crop straw retention machine, such as the poor straw chopping quality and bad spreading uniformity. In the study, according to the drive powered mode, straw retention machine was divided into straw chopping machine powered by tractor and by harvester. Furthermore, according to the function, the tractor powered straw chopping machine was divided into straw chopping device combined with no-tillage or reduce-tillage seeder, the straw chopping and spreading machine and the straw chopping and mixing/burying machine. Simultaneously, the chopping knife design was summarized and the primary application of discrete element method (DEM) on crop straw was generalized. In order to promote the high-quality development of crop straw chopping and spreading machine, clearing the straw chopping and spreading mechanism is necessary. Therefore, the study finally proposed the future development directions of crop retention machine, including building the chopped straw simulation model, specifying the flow field distribution in the chopper room and researching the effect of machine parameters on straw chopping quality and spreading uniformity.
16.
Article Title: Preliminary bench experiment study on working parameters of pneumatic seeding mechanism for wheat in rice-wheat rotation areas
稻麦轮作区小麦气力式播种机构的初步台架试验研究
Authors: Wang, Chao; Lu, Caiyun; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Cheng, Xiupei
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Pages: 66-72
Publication Year: 2020
Abstract: In order to solve the serious problems of soil adhesion and blockage as well as high operating resistance for wheat seeders under the condition of sticky heavy loam clay in rice-wheat rotation area, a new concept of non-contact pneumatic seeding technology that could rip wheat seed into the soil by high pressure accelerating airflow was proposed in this paper. A preliminary bench experiment was conducted and high-speed photography technology was used to study the parameters of wheat pneumatic seeding under five levels (30%, 35%, 40%, 45% and 50%) of soil moisture content for loam clay. Experimental results showed that: wheat seeds could be ripped into soil without damage and acquired varying degrees of germination by way of pneumatic seeding; shooting depth shown a deepening tendency with the increase in shooting velocity, and the value of seeding depth and seeding velocity are closely related to the soil moisture level, which wheat seeds can achieve higher shooting depth with relative lower shooting velocity when the soil moisture content increases continuously; none of wheat seeds could be ripped into the soil with about 2.93 m/s shooting velocity that accelerated in the form of free fall, while the shooting velocity that wheat seeds needed in order to be completely ripped into soil with 3 mm shooting depth were 4050 m/s (30% soil moisture content), 30-40 m/s (35% soil moisture content), 20-30 m/s (40% soil moisture content), 10-20 m/s (45% soil moisture content) and 2.93-10 m/s (20% soil moisture content), respectively. The experimental results can provide basic data and technical support for the development of non-contact wheat seeding equipment in rice-wheat rotation area.
17.
Article Title: The effect of various edge-curve types of plain-straight blades for strip tillage seeding on torque and soil disturbance using DEM
基于DEM的各种用于带状播种的刃型曲线平直刀片对扭矩和土壤扰动的影响
Authors: Zhao Hongbo; Li Hongwen; Ma Shaochun; He Jin; Wang Qingjie; Lu Caiyun; Zheng Zhiqi; Zhang Chao
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 202
Publication Year: 2020
Abstract: Strip tillage seeders have shown great advantages in seedbed preparation and residue handling in no and minimum tillage seeding. However, soil disturbance and torque requirements need to be further reduced. To address this issue, the simulation in this study used the discrete element method (DEM) to examine the effect of different edge-curve geometries on torque requirement sand soil disturbance characteristics. Herein, the edge-curve geometries include three types of plain-straight blades (Archimedean spiral, logarithmic spiral, and sinusoidal-exponential spiral blades) with four slide-cutting angles of edge-curve tip (30 degrees, 40 degrees, 50 degrees, and 60 degrees). The model particle (i.e., ball-ball) stiffness k(n) was calibrated through a soil bin test, and the optimum value was 6 x 10(3) N/m. The results showed that the blade rotation angle varied with respect to the slide-cutting angle of the edge-curve tip when the soil cutting started and the peak value occurred: the larger the slide-cutting angle was, the earlier the soil cutting began and the peak value appeared. Among the three edge-curve types, the Archimedean spiral blade (which had the largest average slide-cutting angle) obtained the highest average torque and the largest number of soil particles thrown upward, whereas the sinusoidal-exponential spiral blade (which had the smallest average slide-cutting angle) obtained the lowest values in both metrics. As the slide-cutting angle of the edge-curve tip increased, the average torque requirement decreased and fewer soil particles were thrown upward, indicating that a larger slide-cutting angle was preferred when less soil disturbance was desired.
18.
Article Title: A Preliminary Study of Seeding Absence Detection Method for Drills on the Soil Surface of Cropland Based on Ultrasonic Wave without Soil Disturbance
在无土壤扰动情况下超声波穿透农田土壤表面的漏播检测方法初步研究
Authors: Lu, Caiyun; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Wang, Chao; Liu, Junxiao
Source Title: JOURNAL OF SENSORS
Volume: 2019
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Seeding absence detection is essential during seeding operation, since it affects the subsequent crop performance. Existing methods cannot detect the seeding absence position immediately after planting without soil disturbance. In this paper, a nondestructive detection method for finding out the seeding absence position of drills is put forward. It focuses on the echo energy reflected by the circle energy inside the tilled cropland soil, to which the sensor is attached directly on the soil surface, not on ultrasonic waves that penetrate the soil-seed medium below tilled soil. Firstly, the energy circle is used to analyze the sound field distribution characteristics of the sensor in cropland soil. According to the size difference of the seeding absence length value and energy circle diameter, the total energy for three different cases with eight steps for each case is discussed in detail, and in order to find the left and right boundary lines and the length value of seeding absence, a program is designed to help with calculating four base positions automatically. At last, the nondestructive detection method is evaluated by the experiments, and the results demonstrate that the proposed method is accurate, efficient, and convenient in finding the seeding absence position of drilling seeds on the soil surface without soil disturbance.
19.
Article Title: Design and experiment of anti-vibrating and anti-wrapping rotary components for subsoiler cum rotary tiller
深松旋耕机防振防缠绕回转部件的设计与试验
Authors: Zheng, Kan; McHugh, Allen D.; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Caiyun; Hu, Hongnan; Liu, Wenzheng; Zhang, Zhiqiang; Liu, Peng; He, Jin
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Pages: 47-55
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: The commonly used subsoiling cum rotary tiller machine (SRT) in Northern China is a combination of subsoiler and horizontal rotary tiller, however backfilling of the subsoiling slot, excessive vibration and plant residue wrapping on rotary components has been rarely considered. Therefore, the rotary components and assembly were redesigned to address these issues and to an SRT fitted with IT225 short curve rotary blades behind the V-shape subsoiling slots and IIT245 long curve rotary blades between the tines. Long and short blades were fitted on a rotor in a double helix, with optimal spiral angles of 65 degrees and 90 degrees, and phase angle of 147 degrees and 180 degrees, respectively. Compared with the commonly used SRT (CSRT), the additional anti-wrapping cutting blades in the circumferential and axial direction of ASRT could remove hanging residue on the blade holders, wrapping on the rotor and formation of an isolation layer. Moreover, the cutting edge curve of anti-wrapping cutting blades was an exponential curve. Field tests demonstrated that the redesigned SRT with anti-vibrating and anti-wrapping rotary components (ASRT) had was a significant advancement over the CSRT. Moreover, the working depth of rotary tillage was more stable, while other observations confirmed that backfilling of the subsoiling slot was also improved.
20.
Article Title: Design and performance test of plowing and rotary tillage combined machine
翻耕旋耕联合作业机的设计与性能试验
Authors: Bao XuanBin; Zhao XiangYu; He Jin; Li HongWen; Wang QingJie; Liu WenZheng
Source Title: INMATEH-Agricultural Engineering
Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Pages: 213-222
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Straw returning is an effective option to avoid straw open burning during harvest seasons and has been widely implemented all over the world. This study developed a plowing and rotary tillage combined machine, which could bury the straw, break the soil and prepare the soil for planting in one operation. The machine consists of plowing component, rotary component and power transmission system. The plow component was designed by the response surface analysis, which analyzed the influence of different contour line of plow surface on the burying effect and the working resistance at the speeds of 0.8 m/s, 1.0 m/s and 1.2 m/s respectively. In combination with the working effect of the plow component, the rotary blades were arranged by the method of 4n2. The orthogonal test results showed that the C-plow surface has the best burying effect at 1 m/s. The field tests showed that the machine had a straw burying rate of 91%, surface roughness was 0.564, fuel consumption was 43.41 kg/ha and the soil-breaking rate reached 96.08%; all the performance indexes met the design requirements. The study can provide theoretical reference for parameters design of plowing and rotary tillage combined machine.
21.
Article Title: Effect of Straw Retention on Crop Yield, Soil Properties, Water Use Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emission in China: A Meta-Analysis
秸秆还田对中国作物产量、土壤性状、水分利用效率和温室气体排放的影响：Meta分析
Authors: Liu, Peng; He, Jin; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Caiyun; Zheng, Kan; Liu, Wenzheng; Zhao, Hongbo; Lou, Shangyi
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT PRODUCTION
Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Pages: 347-367
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Crop straw retention to field (CSRF) is a technology to impact the crop yield, soil properties and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and plays a critical role in sustainable agriculture system. Based on the literatures published, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate actual impact of CSRF on crop yield, soil properties and GHG emission compared with straw no-retention (NSR). The results indicated that compared with NSR, yield of wheat, maize and rice under CSRF was significantly higher by 4.11, 7.22 and 7.62% respectively; CSRF enhanced the water use efficiency (WUE) and soil organic carbon (SOC) by 14.60 and 7.59%, respectively, reduced the bulk density of 0-20 cm soil layer by 3.06%., while it had no significant effect on the SOC of 20-40 cm; For GHG emissions, the soil emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4 were significantly improved under CSRF by 23.64, 12.21 and 27.34% respectively. Categorically, results on meta-analysis and regression indicated that large variation in crop yield, SOC content and bulk density in 0-20 cm soil layer, WUE and GHG emission under CSRF compared with NSR because of different straw retention mass, retention regions, and crop species. For example, the increased rate of large straw retention mass (LA) on crop yield was the highest. Adoption of CSRF under appropriate site-specific conditions can safeguard China's food security, alleviate soil-related constraints and slightly increase GHG emissions.
22.
Article Title: Kinematic analysis and experiment of corn straw spreading process
玉米秸秆抛撒过程运动学分析与试验
Authors: Liu Peng; Zhang ZhiQiang; He Jin; Li HongWen; Wang QingJie; Lu CaiYun; Lou ShangYi; Liu WenZheng; Cheng XiuPei
Source Title: INMATEH-Agricultural Engineering
Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Pages: 83-92
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Aiming at solving the problem of corn straw uneven-distribution of straw retention machine in North China, based on kinematic analysis, the straw spreading process and its straw dynamics model was studied. Then, effects of spreading angle (SA), spreading deflection angle (SDA) and height of guide vane (HGV) on straw spreading distance, width and uniformity were analyzed. Taking SA, SDA and HGV as experimental factors, the straw spreading distance, width and uniformity were used as experimental indicators. Then the optimization experiment of Box-Behnken design corresponding surface was conducted to obtained batter operating parameter of experimental factors. Simultaneously, mathematical regression model of experimental factors and indicators was established. The test results shown that SA, SDA and HGV had extremely significant effects on width, distance and uniformity of straw spreading, respectively; The SA had extremely significant effect on straw spreading uniformity, the SDA and HGV had significant effect on straw spreading uniformity; The interaction between SA and SDA had extremely significant effect on straw spreading distance and significant effect on spreading uniformity. Furthermore, through parameter optimization test, the better combination of parameters of SA, SDA and HGV were 20°, 11.51°, and 1.12 m, respectively. By field test under working condition of better parameters combination, the test results shown that width, distance and uniformity of straw spreading was 2.58 m, 3.89 m and 95.8%, respectively. The error between the test and theoretical prediction value was less than 5%, proved the accuracy of the model. The study can provide theoretical reference for parameters design of straw choppers.
23.
Article Title: Performance of waterjet on cutting maize stalks: A preliminary investigation
水射流切割玉米秸秆效果的初步试验研究
Authors: Hu, Hongnan; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Qingjie; He, Jin; Lu, Caiyun; Wang, Yingbo; Wang, Chunlei
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Pages: 64-70
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Large amounts of crop stalks left in the field as a result of conservation agriculture cause blockage during no-till planting. To solve this issue, pure waterjet was used to cut off the maize stalks so that the rear furrow opener could pass through without blockage. In this investigation, an experimental study on depth of cut, which was the main performance indicator of pure waterjet on cutting maize stalks, was presented. A full factorial design with 200 tests was implemented with respect to three operation parameters, that is traverse speed, waterjet pressure, and standoff distance were considered as variables. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out in order to determine the statistical significance of individual operation parameters. Using multilinear stepwise regression analysis, a model to predict the cut of depth from the predicted pure waterjet operation to cut maize stalks was then developed. All three operation parameters significantly influenced the cutting performance. Moreover, the results indicated that depth of cut increased with the increase of waterjet pressure, the decrease of traverse speed, and decrease in standoff distance. Waterjet pressure provided major contribution to depth of cut, followed by traverse speed, then standoff distance, which was demonstrated by both ANOVA and regression analysis. The experimental results showed that when the standoff distance was closer than 10 mm and waterjet pressure was 280 MPa, all maize stalks specimen could be cutoff thoroughly. With the consideration of field operating conditions, waterjet pressure of 280 MPa or higher and 10 mm to 15 mm standoff distance were recommended for maize stalks cutting. This analysis provided a realistic approach for the optimization of the ultra-high pressure pure waterjet parameters in maize stalks cutting, which could be used to relieve the occurrence.
24.
Article Title: Research progress of liquid fertilizer application technology and machine
液肥施用技术及装置研究进展
Authors: Yu ChangChang; Wang QingJie; Li HongWen; He Jin; Lu CaiYun; Liu ZhengDao; Wang Chao
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 28 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Liquid fertilizer has the advantages of easy absorption, high efficiency, low production cost, low environmental pollution compared to the traditional granular fertilizer, but liquid fertilizer application technology and machine, which are suitable for different plots and geographical environments, are the main factors that restrict the widespread use of liquid fertilizer. The objective of this paper was to review the current development process and research status in liquid fertilizer application technology and machine. the working principles, characteristics of four main technologies and related machines including foliage spraying, drip fertilization, row fertilization and spot fertilization were introduced, and current difficulties and problems such as low fertilizer utilization rate, environmental pollution, high cost and poor working effect were generalized. Combined the research progress, current technical difficulties, the future research emphasis and development direction in China, following aspects were suggested: (1) Improving specialization and differentiation of liquid fertilizer application machines to adapt the different needs of specific crops; (2) Studying miniaturized machines to meet the needs of the working environment in mountainous and hilly areas in China; (3) Enhancing intelligent measuring, precise control and information management ability of machines to satisfy the requirements of different crops; (4) Developing combined machines with existing seeder machines and cultivator machines to reduce the operating link and cost. In summary, high fertilizer utilization rate, low production cost, low environmental pollution, high combined, automatic ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus potassium, high automation and intelligence are the development direction of liquid fertilizer application technology and machine in the future.
25.
Article Title: Research progress on visual navigation technology of agricultural machinery
农机视觉导航技术研究进展
Authors: Wang ChunLei; Lu CaiYun; Li HongWen; Wei ZhongCai; Cheng XiuPei; Mao YiJin; Hu HongNan; Wang Chao
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 28 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Visual navigation, which has been widely adopted in agricultural mechanization production such as tillage, seeding, field management and harvest, has been a crucial technology in automatic navigation of agricultural machinery. The objective of this paper is to review the application of visual navigation technology in agricultural machinery based on the monocular camera across the entire world. The basic structure of visual navigation system of agricultural machinery was summarized in this paper. The research and application progress of navigation path detection in tillage, seeding, field management and harvest were systematically introduced, and the existing problems of the navigation control system in agricultural machinery were expounded. The present work also pointed out the development directions of visual navigation technology of agricultural machinery according to the current research situation as follows: during the first phase, most of efforts would be exerted on investigating and developing farmland information acquisition technology and equipment in order to compensate the existing disadvantages; optimizing conventional path detection algorithms, meanwhile exploring new algorithms to improve the precision of visual navigation system could be the major subject of the second phase; and the third phase would be further improving navigation control system, such as enhancing quality and efficiency of farmland operations.
26.
Article Title: Research situation of rotary tillage technology under conservation tillage
保护性耕作下旋耕技术的研究现状
Authors: Wang Chao; Li HongWen; He Jin; Wang QingJie; Lu CaiYun; Cheng XiuPei
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Pages: 130-139
Publication Year: 2019
Abstract: Mechanized rotary tillage technology has strong ability of cutting and breaking soil, which can basically realize stubble crushing, straw burying and then providing clean seedbed for next crop seeding in the field under conservation tillage conditions. In recent years, the types and quantity of rotary tillers have continued to increase all over the world, and they have been widely used in agricultural production. However, the development of rotary tiller is facing new problems and challenges. The purpose of this paper is to review the research and development of rotary tillage machinery under conservation tillage. This paper has analyzed and introduced the operating characteristics and working principles of the existing typical rotary tillage machines, which contain single-function rotary tiller, rotary tillage combined machine and rotary tillage seeder. Some feasible suggestions as follows were proposed for the practical problems in the development of rotary tillage technology and equipment: (1) Developing wide working width and deep tillage technology of rotary tiller; (2) Promoting research on the basic interaction theory of rotary tiller-soil-straw; (3) Optimizing of parameters and production craft of rotary blade; (4) Integrating intelligence and automation technology. In summary, intelligenization, automation, wide working width and multifunction are the major development directions of rotary tillage machinery in future.
27.
Article Title: Advances in research on pneumatic precision seed metering device
气动精密排种装置的研究进展
Authors: Liu JunXiao; Wang QingJie; Li HongWen; He Jin; Liu ZhengDao; Cheng XiuPei; Wang Chao; Huang XingYuan
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Pages: 193-206
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: The significance of mechanized precision sowing technology in agricultural production was described briefly. Some researchers have proved that pneumatic seeding could save cost and improve efficiency in large-scale production. Pneumatic seeding technology has the advantages of fewer injuries, easy to achieve single seeding, versatility well, and high-speed operation adaptability, and it is the key technical support for achieving precision seeding. Compared the traditional mechanical and pneumatic seed metering technology, the advantages, development status and necessity of the pneumatic seeding technology was analyzed. The working principles of four types of typical pneumatic seed metering devices (vacuum metering device, air-blowing metering device, air pressure metering device and centralized pneumatic metering device) were summarized in detail, and the application and development prospects were introduced, different pneumatic metering devices in working characteristics, advantages, limitations were analyzed and the problems to be resolved were put forward, the other related researches on pneumatic seeding technology in developed countries abroad (seed pneumatic conveying characteristics, seed coating dust control) have been introduced. Above all, this paper summarized differences in domestic and foreign researches on pneumatic precision seeding technology, also pointed out the developmental direction and suggestions of the future.
28.
Article Title: Comparison on soil, straw disturbance and resistance of conventional and plain-straight blade for strip-tillage with Discrete Element Method
基于离散元法比较带状耕作常规刀片与平直刀片对土壤、秸秆扰动及阻力的影响
Authors: Zhao HongBo; He Jin; Li HongWen; Mao YiJin; Hu HongNan; Zhang ZhiQiang; Liu Peng
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Pages: 229-240
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: Strip tillage seeder has been widely adopted for its high performance in anti-blocking and seeding quality. However, its high soil disturbance and resistance are not preferred. In present work, a plain-straight blade was proposed to overcome these drawbacks. For the sake of analyzing the strip tillage process and comparing the soil, straw disturbance and cutting resistance of the plain-straight blade against that of conventional rotary blade, a DEM (Discrete Element Method) simulation was conducted due to its strength in numerically approximating the whole physical process with high resolution in space and time. After soil bond shear stress of the DEM soil bin model was calibrated against the furrow shape profile obtained through field experiment, the optimal value of 2*102 Pa with a relative error of 4.4% was applied. Simulation results showed that the plain-straight blade could significantly lower torque requirement and resistance in all directions by 18.3% and 32.5% respectively in comparison with that of conventional blade. Both tiller sets with two blades were inevitable to mixture of soil from different soil layers (conventional blade of 38.9%, the plain-straight blade of 37.1%). It was found that the soil mixture index was significantly higher than that of conventional blade for the first and second soil layer and most of the mixed soil moved into the neighboring layers. The conventional blade has thrown out 19.2% soil particles and 64.8% straw clumps away from the seedbed, while the pain-straight blade thrown out 15.0% and 61.8%. For the straw-soil mixture the percentages were 11.0% and 9.5% respectively. It could be concluded that plain-straight blade was preferred considering the relatively low torque requirement, resistance and soil throwing as well as the more neatness of the seedbed, especially when low soil mixture index was desired.
29.
Article Title: Design and experiment on point-fertilizing planter for maize
玉米点施肥播种机设计与试验
Authors: Liu ZhengDao; Wang QingJie; He Jin; Li HongWen; Niu Qi; Wei ZhongCai
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Pages: 159-168
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: In sowing and fertilization links of Chinese maize production, the stripe fertilization method results in excessive application of chemical fertilizers and low utilization. In order to solve this problem, a kind of maize point-fertilizing planter, based on the reciprocating motion mechanism of cam linkage and the groove driving principle was designed in this paper. Through coordinating the cam and driving groove, the planter can drive the sowing-fertilizing shovel to open holes back and forth for sowing and fertilizing, which reduced soil disturbance and provided high quality beds. Through collaborative operation of sowing shovel and fertilizing shovel, point-fixed fertilizing and holing was conducted aside the sowing hole, which reduced the amount of fertilizer application and improved fertilizer utilization. In addition, combining the seeding apparatus and fertilizing apparatus with sowing-fertilizing shovel, the planter shortened the movement distance of the seeds and fertilizers, which ensured the stability movement of seeds and fertilizer and achieved stable seed implantation. At the same time, the cam profile equation and the driving groove parameter was determined and theoretically calculated. Through the three-factor tri-level orthogonal test among advancing speed, sowing-fertilizing shovel penetrating angle and penetrating depth, this paper determined the comparatively optimum combination: the advancing speed was 2 km/h, the penetrating angle was 40° and the penetrating depth was 40 mm. Field test based on comparatively optimum parameters showed that the average sowing depth, fertilizing depth, and seed-fertilizer distance are 35.7, 40.1 and 48.3 respectively which met the requirements, and the variation coefficient of planting distance was 3.47% which showed favorable stability. This study can provide a new idea and method for the research of maize seeding and precision fertilization in China.
30.
Article Title: Effects of soil-touching components with different parameters on soil properties and wheat emergence in one year two crops area of North China Plain
不同触土因素对华北平原一年两熟区土壤性状及小麦出苗的影响
Authors: Lu CaiYun; Meng ZhiJun; Li HongWen; He Jin; Wang QingJie; Li LiWei
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Pages: 1-12
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: In order to understand the performance of soil-touching components with different parameters on planter and get the optimal parameter configuration of soil-touching components, field orthogonal experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of seed burial depth, soil-covering force, post-sowing compaction force and forward velocity levels on seedbed properties and wheat emergence. Four factors with three levels (seed burial depths: 25, 37.5 and 50 mm; forces for post-sowing compaction: 11.8, 14.4 and 17 kg; soil-covering forces: 2.3, 11.4 and 20.4 kg; forward velocity: 4, 5.5 and 7 km/h) were designed to measure soil cone index, soil moisture content, soil temperature, mean emergence time, emergence percentage, mean seedling height, and consistency of seeding height. Extreme analysis, ANOVA, and integrated balance method was used in analysis and the results showed that contribution rate order of the factors for all measured seedling status was: forward velocity > soil-covering force > seed burial depth > post-sowing compaction force, and the optimal parameter configuration was forward velocity 5.5 km/h, soil-covering device force was 11.4 kg, burial depth was 50 mm, and post-sowing soil compaction force was 17 kg.
31.
Article Title: Influence of seeding rate on winter wheat yield: a meta-analysis
播种量对冬小麦产量的影响：Meta分析
Authors: Xie LiJuan; Wang QingJie; Li HongWen; Liu ZhengDao; Liu JunXiao; Wang Chao; Cheng XiuPei
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 27 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of seeding rate on winter wheat yield in Chinese different conditions, including different agricultural regions, annual average rainfall, annual average temperature, and sowing date. Medium seeding rate (from 80 to 150 kg/hm2, MSR) was used as the control group, and small seeding rate (less than 80 kg/hm2, SSR) and large seeding rate (more than 150 kg/hm2, LSR) were used as the test groups. Statistical test data of published literatures were used to analyze the influence of seeding rate on the relative rate of yield change quantitatively under different conditions using meta-analysis method. Results showed that: when the annual average rainfall was more than 600 mm and from 400 to 600 mm, LSR increased winter wheat yields by 1.39% and 7.45% respectively compared with MSR. When the annual average rainfall was less than 400 mm, SSR reduced winter wheat yield by 7.30% compared with MSR. When the annual average temperature was higher than 12°C, SSR reduced winter wheat yield by 3.55% compared with MSR. When the annual average temperature was less than or equal to 12°C, LSR increased winter wheat yield by 8.38% compared with MSR. SSR in East China and Southwest China reduced winter wheat yields by 3.20% and 12.89% compared with MSR. LSR in North China and Northwest China increased winter wheat yields by 11.67% and 10.27% compared with MSR. Sowing after October 20th, LSR increased winter wheat yield by 2.19%. Therefore, it was recommended to use MSR sowing during the appropriate sowing date in Chinese typical winter wheat areas. And increasing seeding rate appropriately would increase winter wheat yield in North and Northwest China, or in the greater annual average rainfall, lower annual average temperature, or later sowing date.
32.
Article Title: Influences of wide-narrow seeding on soil properties and winter wheat yields under conservation tillage in North China Plain
宽窄行播种对华北平原保护性耕作土壤性状及冬小麦产量的影响
Authors: Hu, Hongnan; Lu, Caiyun; Wang, Qingjie; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Xu, Dijuan; Wang, Xianliang
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 11 Issue: 4
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: In order to promote the winter wheat yield and guarantee seeding quality in double-cropping system, no-tillage or reduced tillage planting modes with different row spacing have been implemented to result in different levels of yield. A three-year (2012-2015) field experiment was conducted on the experimental farm at Zhuozhou of Hebei Province in North China Plain to compare winter wheat yield from the two planting modes: wide-narrow row space planting mode (WN) and uniform row space planting mode (UR) Both planting modes were performed under reduced tillage conditions with straw mulching. The results showed that in North China Plain WN had positive impacts on crop yield, yield components, leaf area index (LAI) and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) index. Comparing with the UR, IPAR and LAI index for WN were enhanced by 4.8% and 5.2%, respectively. The average yield for WN was 7.2%, significantly greater than that of UR under the same quantity and density. In addition, for WN mode, machinery could pass through with less blocking under large amount of straw mulching, which largely improved tillage efficiency and potentially popularized the conservation tillage technology in North China plain. It is therefore recommended that wide-narrow row space planting mode (WN) combined with reduced tillage and straw mulching be more suitable for conservation tillage in double-cropping pattern areas in North China Plain.
33.
Article Title: Research progress and development trend of plot seeding mechanization.
小区播种机械化研究进展及发展趋势
Authors: Cheng XiuPei; Lu CaiYun; Li HongWen; He Jin; Wang QingJie; Mao YiJin; Wang Chao; Niu Qi; Wei ZhongCai; XieLiJuan
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 27 Issue: 4
Publication Year: 2018
Abstract: Field breeding experiment has been recognized globally as an effective means in breeding new varieties, improving crop quality, and enhancing crop yield. However, field breeding experiment is a kind of complex system engineering, while labor-intensive in each step. As a crucial component, plot seeding mechanization is an effective approach in assisting a smooth implementation of field breeding experiment. The objective of the paper was to review the current development process and research status in plot seeder. In this paper, the types, work principle, detailed characteristics and researches of plot seeder were introduced. And some problems should be emphasized in the existing plot machinery: the operation quality of plot seeding machine is poor, the plots edge are irregular after seeding, plot seeder requires high costs and price, and the modern control level is low. In conclusion, more scientific studies should focus on solving the following problems: (1) Particular measures need to be taken in order to enhance operation quality, such as optimizing structural parameters, improving machining accuracy and operation level; (2) The motion state of seed dropping in the tube should be studied and meanwhile ground wheel slip should be avoided to solve problem of irregular plot edge; (3) Three means can be employed, including simplifying structure, using low-cost materials, developing multi-functional sowing machine and designing new machine to replace existing sowing machinery, for the purpose to control the total cost; and (4) The application of electronic and information technology in the plot seeder can significantly leverage the mechanization, automation and intelligence. In summary, high precision, low labor intensity and cost, high automation and intelligence are the directions in the development of plot seeder in the future.
34.
Article Title: CFD numerical simulation and optimization of the flow fields in the chopping chamber of flail chopper
基于CFD的粉碎室内流场分析数值模拟与优化
Authors: Zhang ZhiQiang; McHugh, A. D.; Li HongWen; Chen LiQing; He Jin; Lu CaiYun; Zheng ZhiQi; Wang QingJie
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 26 Issue: 4
Publication Year: 2017
Abstract: The flail chopper is a common agricultural machine used widely to manage in-field crop residues and for mowing cover crops. Straw chopping quality and spreading uniformity have direct impact on seeding quality of no-till seeders, seed germination and crop growth. To understand chopping and spreading performance, three-dimensional flow fields under the hood of a flail chopper were simulated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD), in which FLUENT software was used and the RNG k-epsilon turbulence model and multiple reference frame (MRF) method were adopted. Streamlines and core region vortices within the chopping chamber, as well as pressure on targeted sampling planes, rotor and inlet were also analyzed. The simulation results showed that flow at the chopping chamber inlet to the rotor was smooth at relative low velocity. The rotor generated negative pressure at the inlet and increased fluid flow velocity. However, in the chamber, velocity increased and it generated numerous vortices. Consequently, some flow was discharged non-uniformly and at low velocity, while the remaining flow continually rotated with the rotor and with partial lateral transfer. Pressure on the rotor was symmetrically distributed in the axial direction. Regions of high-pressure occurred at chopping blade and fan blade tips. Fan blades increased negative pressure zones at either end of the chopping chamber inlet. However, pressure at outlet was symmetrically distributed horizontally. Mounting guide vanes at the chopping chamber outlet reduced vortices and redirected flows toward the outlet which could improve straw flow-ability and spreading performance. CFD analysis provided the significant information on the influence of flail chopper's design parameters under steady state conditions. To further optimize fluid flow characteristics and performance of the chopper, continued studies under variable conditions are required.
35.
Article Title: Comprehensive effect of different subsoilers on fuel consumption, soil condition and yield based on field experiments and linear weighted model
基于田间试验和线性加权模型的不同深松机对燃料消耗、土壤状况和作物产量的综合影响
Authors: Liu Jun'an; Wang XiaoYan; Li HongWen; He Jin; Wang QingJie; Niu Qi; Hu HongNan
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 26 Issue: 4
Publication Year: 2017
Abstract: Subsoiling tillage is widely applied in most areas of China because of its soil condition improvement and yield increasing effects. Researches have been conducted on reducing soil resistance and saving energy for subsoiling tillage. Some studies have also been done on soil condition and yield improvement effects of subsoiling treatments. It is necessary to conduct the research considering energy saving, yield increasing and soil condition improvement together to identify relatively better subsoilers for specific soil conditions in terms of reducing energy consumption in the mean time of increasing crop yield and improving soil conditions. A series of subsoilers with different tine shapes and structural parameters were evaluated by field tests in this paper. Commonly used chisel-shape subsoiler (CS), arrowhead-shape subsoiler (AS) and wing-shape subsoiler (WS) were tested, together with the treatment non-subsoiling (NS), in field for 3 years in annual spring maize planting area of Northeast China, where the soil type is brown loam soil. Soil bulk density, moisture content, cone index at 0-40 depth, maize root and yield characteristics were measured for tillage treatments with different subsoilers. In addition, a linear weighted math model was developed based on the indexes of fuel consumption, soil condition improvement and yield increase rate to analyze the comprehensive effect of different subsoilers. The results indicated that: subsoiler tine shape had significant impact on fuel consumption. The fuel consumption for CS was lower than that for AS and WS by 57.29% and 132.96% respectively. All the three subsoilers treatments significantly improved soil condition and maize yield, compared with NS, annual average yields of CS, AS and WS treatments were increased by 24.82%, 20.43% and 19.86%, respectively. While the effect on soil condition improvement of different subsoilers had no obvious difference. The evaluation on the comprehensive effects of the three subsoilers on fuel consumption, soil condition improvement and yield increase showed that CS subsoiler was the relative best subsoiler of the three types in this experimental condition for it was more energy saving than WS and AS subsoiler with similar effect level on soil condition and yield as WS and AS. This research provided some methods to evaluate comprehensive effects of subsoiling and further to select or optimize subsoiler types for specific soil condition.
36.
Article Title: Design and testing of an inter-row hole-pricking granular fertilizer applicator for corn.
玉米行间定点扎穴施肥机的设计与试验
Authors: Hu Hong; Li HongWen; Ma ShaoChun; Chen WanZhi; Niu Qi; Hu HongNan
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 26 Issue: 1
Publication Year: 2017
Abstract: An inter-row hole-pricking granular fertilizer applicator was designed to top-dress two corn rows in a single pass, to test the feasibility of hole application and precision fertilization of granular fertilizer between corn rows by machinery and to meet the agronomic requirement of topdressing during middle and later growth period of corn. This paper presented the whole structure and working principles of the granular fertilizer applicator, introduced the design process and structure characteristics of the steering mechanism, lifting mechanism, and hole-pricking mechanism. The relevant parameters of hole-pricking and deep-fertilization mechanism were confirmed by the methods of empirical designing and theoretical calculation, and the kinematic model of hole-pricking and deep-fertilization mechanism was then developed. MATLAB software was used to simulate the motion trajectory of the pricker and the optimal parameters were determined. Indoor experiment results showed that the fertilization amount of per hole had a positive linear relationship with the length of fertilizer cavity, the maximum fertilization amount was 42 g and fertilization consistency coefficient of variation (CV) was less than 8% (more than 5 mm fertilizer cavity), which met the requirement of technical specifications for row applicator. The field experiments indicated that the width of the granular fertilizer applicator was 450 mm, which allowed the machine running between corn rows with spacing of greater than 500 mm; the average fertilization distance was 117.8 mm, the average hole spacing was 234 mm, the final stable fertilization depth was 88 mm, and all the qualification rates of fertilization distance and fertilization depth at different forward speed levels were greater than 90%. Additionally, the average off-track error was 10.25 mm, and the lateral dumping phenomenon didn't occur when it worked under a full load in the field with gradient of less than 9.6°, while worked under non-load with gradient of less than 14.2°.
37.
Article Title: Global overview of research and development of crop residue management machinery
作物残茬管理机械研究现状与发展概况
Authors: Zhang, Z.; McHugh, A. D.; Li, H.; Ma, S.; Wang, Q.; He, J.; Zheng, K.
Source Title: APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE
Volume: 33 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2017
Abstract: Crop residue retention has been recognized worldwide to improve soil structure and fertility, reduce pollution and erosion, and enhance soil water retention/conservation. However, some factors limit the widespread adoption of on-farm machinery that can appropriately manage in-field residue. Two key factors are the quality of residue chopping and spreading uniformity. This article initially summarized the research on blade design, blade arrangement and power consumption. The article classified residue management machinery into three types: single function, multiple function and harvester powered straw chopper/spreader. Single function straw chopper/spreader was further subdivided into four types, according to installation and movement modes of the chopping blade; multiple function straw chopper/spreader was subdivided into six types, according to function and location; harvester powered straw chopper/spreader was subdivided into three types, according to mounting position. To improve the chopped straw spreading uniformity, adding a blower fan and improving blade roller structure were proposed to increase the air velocity. Finally, the article proposed future directions for straw chopper/spreader development, including awareness raising of straw chopping and spreading mechanism, analysis of flow characteristics in the machine, development of straw chopping and spreading regulating device.
38.
Article Title: Impact of tire compaction on hydro-thermal feature of sandy and loam soils.
轮胎压实对砂壤土水热特性的影响
Authors: Wang XianLiang; Wang QingJie; Li HongWen; He Jin; Lu CaiYun; Niu Qi; Xu QiMeng; Zhang YuFan; Huang XingYuan
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 26 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2017
Abstract: In order to study the effect of soil compaction on soil hydro-thermal feature, field experiments were carried out on sandy and loam soils in Hebei Province. The experiments were performed in randomized complete block design with three replications. Effects of five different kinds of compaction frequencies (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 times) and a control treatment of no compaction on soil volume water content, soil water storage, soil temperature and crop yield were analyzed. The results showed that soil compaction could increase soil bulk density under sandy and loam soils at 0-40 cm soil depth. From the entire growth cycle analysis, soil compaction treatment significantly increased the soil volume water content and water storage, the 9 passes maximum increase by 35.4%, 34.1% respectively, compared to control treatment on sandy soil; 3 passes treatment could increase the soil volume water content and water storage on loam soil, the maximum growth rate were 12.4%, 9.1% respectively, compared to control treatment, at 0-20 cm soil depth. Reversely, soil compaction could decrease volume water content and soil water storage on sandy and loam soil at 20-80 cm soil depth. During the whole growing season, soil compaction decreased soil temperature at 0-10 cm soil layer, the range of temperature reduction were 6.8%-19.3% on sandy soil, 6.7%-50.3% on loam soil, respectively. However, soil compaction treatment has no significant effect on soil temperature at 20 cm depth on flaxen and loamy soil. Soil compaction could decrease maize yield, caused a decline in maize yield of 0.3%, 1.0%, 5.6%, 6.1%, 9.3% in sandy soil, 0.6%, 3.6%, 6.9%, 12.0%, 17.1% in loam soil, respectively, with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 pass, compared to control treatment. So, we can take advantage of the soil hydro-thermal feature principle in farm production, such as adjusting the suppression device combination the climate, to keep the good moisture and temperature condition. And this study also can be helpful in the promotion of the soil hydro-thermal feature in compacted areas under different soil type in North China.
39.
Article Title: Development of conservation tillage effect monitoring system based on wireless sensor network
基于无线传感器网络的保护性耕作效果监测系统的开发
Authors: Wang QingJie; Niu Qi; Du RuiCheng; Li HongWen; He Jin; Chang FangLe; Feng YanJie; Khokan, K. S.
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 25 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2016
Abstract: Clear identification of the effects of conservation tillage (CT) technology on soil physical properties can provide important basis for the extension and application of this technology. According to the characteristic of conservation tillage farming system, this study was established the conservation tillage effect monitoring system based on Geographic Positioning Remote Sensing (GPRS) and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The aim is to accurately monitor the effects of implementing conservation tillage farming system under different conditions in real time and provide reliable and complete data for the follow-up. In this study, the remote data acquisition system was achieved through designing of the function, the conservation tillage effect monitoring software was designed using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (NET Framework4.0) in computer programming (C#) language. According to the analyses result of system reliability and field test, the conservation tillage effect monitoring system can gather, transmit, display and store the information of soil temperature and humidity and field video in a remote and real-time way which also can analyze the data and draw graphics. This system is useful, efficient, reliable and stable for better crop production through CT effect monitoring system.
40.
Article Title: Effect of conservation farming practices on soil organic matter and stratification in a mono-cropping system of Northern China
保护性耕作对中国北方单作系统土壤有机质和分层的影响
Authors: Zhang, Zhiqiang; Qiang, Hongjun; McHugh, Allen D.; He, Jin; Li, Hongwen; Wang, Qingjie; Lu, Zhanyuan
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 156
Publication Year: 2016
Abstract: An arid environment under long-term traditional agriculture has resulted in serious environmental and agricultural problems on a number of fragile soils with distinguishing physical and chemical properties in Northern China. Conservation agriculture is an alternative sustainable agriculture management system, which contributes to conserving soil, water and fertility, while changing vertical distribution of soil organic matter (SUM). No-tillage with straw cover (NTSC) and traditional tillage with straw removal (TTSR) in four regions of northern China (Tailai, Wuchuan, Nailin, Yaodu) were investigated to determine how tillage and soil type affected SUM stratification. SUM content, total N (TN), soil water content (SWC) and soil bulk density (rho(d)) in the 0-5,5-15,15-30 and 30-40 cm layers and the time since implementation of tillage treatments were evaluated. The top layer (0-5 cm) and total SUM content were markedly improved by NTSC. The influence dramatically decreased with depth in all sites. SUM content increased during the first 10 years following NTSC implementation, but the rate of increase was reduced in subsequent years. There was high positive correlation between SUM and SWC, high positive correlation between SUM and TN, and high negative correlation between SUM and bulk density. Effects of conservation measures on SUM content were expressed by a stratification ratio. The stratification ratio of SUM, in most sites, under long-term NTSC were >2. These results from northern China, suggest that long-term no-tillage with straw cover significantly improved topsoil conditions and whole of soil profile SUM and this improvement was obvious in different layers. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
41.
Article Title: Effect of tine furrow opener on soil disturbance, draught, and fuel consumption
尖齿开沟器对土壤扰动、抗旱及油耗的影响
Authors: Zhang XiangCai; Li HongWen; Ma ShaoChun; Du RuiCheng; Wang QingJie; He Jin; Zheng ZhiQi
Source Title: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
Volume: 25 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2016
Abstract: In the process of no-till planting, the appropriate seedbed needs to be created by furrow opener with draught reducing and energy consumption. A series of tine furrow openers, which included different key structural parameters (rake angle, cutting edge curve, and penetration clearance angle) and designed based on L16(45) orthogonal table, were evaluated using the integrated field testing system in field and simulated by finite element model (FEM) to analyze the effects of key structural parameters on draught under the operating depth of 10 cm and speed of 4 km/h. In addition, the effects of tine furrow opener on soil disturbance, draught, and fuel consumption were analyzed with various of operating depths (5, 7.5, 10 cm) and speeds (3, 4, 5, 6 km/h) in the experimental field, and then the interaction among the three indicators was analyzed. The results showed that the experimental value was consistent with the simulation value on the analysis of the key structural parameters; the order of key factors affecting draught is: rake angle (significant), interaction between rake angle and cutting edge curve (significant), cutting edge curve (significant), penetration clearance angle (not significant); the soil disturbance increased with the increasing operating depth; when the operating speed increased from 3 km/h to 6 km/h, maximum width of soil cut (Wsc), maximum width of soil throw (Wst), ridge to ridge distance (Rrd), and cross-sectional of furrow (Af) increased by 10.00%-23.64%, 16.88%-49.31%, 22.34%-48.15%, 7.15%-17.33% respectively, however, the height of ridge (Hr) decreased by 5.67%-10.36%; the draught and fuel consumption increased with increasing operating depth and speed; the draught and fuel consumption increased with increasing soil disturbance under the condition of various of operating depth, and the fuel consumption increased with increasing draught. This research could provide some fundamental information for furrow opener structure optimization and operating performance prediction.
42.
Article Title: Effects of controlled traffic no-till system on soil chemical properties and crop yield in annual double-cropping area of the North China Plain
固定道对华北平原双季稻区土壤化学性质及作物产量的影响
Authors: Lu, Caiyun; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Sarker, KhokanKumer; Li, Wenying; Lu, Zhanyuan; Rasaily, Rabi G.; Li, Hui; Chen, Guangnan
Source Title: SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 54 Issue: 6
Publication Year: 2016
Abstract: A controlled traffic no-till system is a cropping system that has a significant potential to improve soil health, sustainability and crop yield. A pilot experiment was conducted to compare soil chemical properties and crop yields between controlled traffic no-till and random traffic in an annual double-cropping area of the North China Plain from 2005 to 2010. The experiment was performed using three treatments: (1) controlled traffic no-till (NTCT); (2) random traffic no-till (NTRT); and (3) conventional tillage (CT). The NTCT treatment significantly improved soil organic matter and total N compared with both NTRT and CT treatments and remarkably increased available P compared with CT treatment in the surface soil layer (0-10 cm), but no significant differences were found in soil pH compared with both NTRT and CT treatments. However, in the 10-20- and 20-30-cm soil profiles, soil organic matter, total N and available P were reduced after NTCT treatment when compared with those obtained after CT treatment. At 0-10 cm soil depths, soil bulk density under NTCT and NTRT was higher than in CT, whereas the opposite was true at soil depths of 10-30 cm. Overall, it was found that the 6-year mean maize yield of NTCT and NTRT treatments was 10.9% and 1.1% higher respectively than the CT treatment, whereas the winter wheat yield was 1.1% and 3.0% higher respectively compared with the CT treatment. NTCT appears to be an improvement over current farming systems in an annual double-cropping area of the North China Plain.
43.
Article Title: Effects of key design parameters of tine furrow opener on soil seedbed properties
开沟器关键设计参数对种床土壤物理性质的影响
Authors: Zhang Xiangcai; Li Hongwen; Du Ruicheng; Ma Shaochun; He Jin; Wang Qingjie; Chen Wanzhi; Zheng Zhiqi; Zhang Zhiqiang
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 9 Issue: 3
Publication Year: 2016
Abstract: The structural parameters of tine furrow openers have significant effects on soil property of seed furrow in no-till planting, thereby affecting crop growth and yields. In order to analyze the effects of key parameters of tine furrow openers on soil properties (soil bulk density, soil water-stable aggregates (WSA), and soil disturbance) of the surface soil layer of 0-10 cm and surface straw disturbance, the tine furrow openers with different structural parameters, including cutting edge thickness, cutting edge curve, penetration clearance angle and rake angle, were designed and tested under no-till conditions. Orthogonal test and single factor test were performed to analyze the effects of different parameters. Results showed that the rake angle, cutting edge thickness and cutting edge curve had significant effects on cross-sectional area of furrow (A(f)) and disturbance of surface straw; the rake angle had a significant effect on soil bulk density. Soil types and operating depth had significant effects on soil disturbance caused by tine furrow openers. The concave type tine furrow opener produced the lowest soil disturbance and soil bulk density of seed furrow, the highest surface straw disturbance and the greatest content of WSA (>0.5 mm). With increasing rake angles of tine furrow opener, the width of seedbed (W-sb) and the A(f) decreased first and then increased, respectively, while the width of soil throw (W-st) and the height of ridge (H-r) increased. The W-sb and A(f) created by tine furrow opener with 60 degrees rake angle were significantly lower than that with others, respectively. The tine furrow opener with rake angle ranged from 45 degrees to 60 degrees created the lowest soil bulk density. As the penetration clearance angle increased, the content of WSA (>0.5 mm) decreased, but the effect of penetration clearance angle on the content of WSA (<0.5 mm) was not significant. The cutting edge thickness (<2 mm) had no significant effects on soil properties of seedbed. This study could provide a reference for optimal design of the tine furrow opener to create more suitable seedbed environment, and promote the application of the light no-till planters.
44.
Article Title: Improving China's food and environmental security with conservation agriculture
以保护性耕作提高国家粮食和环境安全水平
Authors: Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Bharucha, Zareen Pervez; Lal, Rattan; Pretty, Jules
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Pages: 377-391
Publication Year: 2016
Abstract: China has achieved impressive increases in agricultural output in recent decades. Yet, past approaches centred on a growing use of fertilizers, pesticides, fuel and water are not likely to achieve the required 30-50% additional increases in food production by mid-century. We show that efficiencies of production are falling and the costs of environmental harm are increasing. Agricultural innovations that improve natural capital are urgently needed. Conservation agriculture (CA) is now practised on >8Mha in China and is offering promising prospects of both enhanced yields and environmental services. Our meta-analysis of 60 papers with 395 observations in China shows notable benefits from CA. Mean yield increase was 4.5% or 263kgha(-1) for wheat, 8.3% or 424kgha(-1) for maize, and 1.65% or 250kgha(-1) for rice. In 34 datasets from 22 published papers (experimental duration: 2-17 years), 26 datasets (76.5%) show that CA increased yield and soil organic carbon (mean SOC increase of >3g.kg(-1) in 0-10cm soil depth) when compared with traditional tillage. Key priorities for the spread of more sustainable forms of agriculture in China are national policy and financial support, better coordination across agencies, and better extension for farmers.
45.
Article Title: Current status, prospect and policy and institutional support for Conservation Agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region
亚太地区保护性耕作的现状、前景、政策和体制支持
Authors: Kassam, A.; Li Hongwen; Niino, Y.; Friedrich, Theodor; Jin, He; Wang Xianliang
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 7 Issue: 5 Pages: 1-13
Publication Year: 2014
Abstract: The current growing demand for Conservation Agriculture (CA) at the national level in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region presents an opportunity to promote its widespread adoption and up-scaling through national policy and institutional support that appears necessary. Despite the obvious benefits of CA, it does not spread automatically unless the constraints that hinder adoption are understood and addressed in specific situations. These can include a combination of intellectual, social, financial, biophysical, technical, infrastructure constraints, or policy related support. Knowing what the bottlenecks are is important in developing strategies to overcome them. This paper presents: (a) some of the generic policy opportunities that exist for the adoption and uptake of CA; (b) a summary proceedings and outcome of the Regional Expert Consultation Workshop held in Beijing and sponsored by FAO Regional Office for Asia-Pacific which describes the status of CA in the Asia-Pacific region; (c) the challenges to CA adoption and uptake in the Asia-Pacific region; and (d) the conditions that need to be taken into account in designing and promoting policy and institutional support strategies for up-scaling CA.
46.
Article Title: Development of small/medium size no-till and minimum-till seeders in Asia: A review
亚洲中小型免耕和少耕播种机的发展综述
Authors: He Jin; Zhang Zhiqiang; Li Hongwen; Wang Qingjie
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Pages: 1-12
Publication Year: 2014
Abstract: The benefits of conservation agriculture (CA) have been widely recognized and CA has been widely adopted in many parts of the world. However, there are some factors that limit the widespread adoption of CA in Asia. The most prominent factor appears to be the lack of suitable CA seeders for small to medium sized land-holding (SLH) farmers. This paper summarizes the small to medium no-till and minimum-till seeders currently available in Asia, and classifies these seeders into four types: manually operated units, animal traction seeders, two-wheel tractor and four-wheel tractor driven seeders. Detailed characteristics have been provided for some typical CA seeders and comparisons were made as to their suitability under particular working conditions. Typically manual and animal traction seeders are confined to small farms and hilly areas, while the larger CA seeders suited to four-wheel tractors are used on larger acreages. To ensure seeding performance on most four-wheel tractor CA seeders, two types of anti-blocking mechanisms (passive and active anti-blocking) have been fitted. Finally, the paper proposes a future direction and development of CA seeders for small/medium size farms in Asia, and also suggests changes in policy support, improvement of anti-blocking mechanisms, suitability for various crops, geographical zones and the contribution of development by public private partnerships to advance the adoption of CA seeders.
47.
Article Title: Permanent Raised Beds Improved Soil Physical Properties in an Annual Double-Cropping System
固定道对一年两熟区土壤物理特性的影响
Authors: Li, Hui; Wang, Qing Jie; He, Jin; Li, Hong Wen; Lu, Zhan Yuan; Rasaily, Rabi G.; Lu, Cai Yun; Zhang, Xiang Cai; Zheng, Zhi Qi
Source Title: AGRONOMY JOURNAL
Volume: 106 Issue: 1 Pages: 7-14
Publication Year: 2014
Abstract: As a typical semi-humid area with a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize (Zea mays L.) annual double-cropping system, Beijing has the lowest food production per capita and is suffering from severe soil degradation and low seedbed temperature in winter. This study evaluated the permanent raised bed (PRB) system in Beijing from 2005 to 2011 to investigate the effects of combining no tillage, residue cover, and controlled traffic with raised beds for improving soil properties. We found that the overall soil bulk density (0-30 cm) in PRB plots was significantly (P < 0.05) lower (by 12.4%) than that in traditional tillage (TT) plots, while the penetration resistance in the 10- to 20- and 20- to 30-cm soil layers of PRB plots was 18.2 and 26.1% lower (P < 0.05), respectively, than that of TT. The percentage of water-stable soil macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) in the PRB plots was 89.8% (P < 0.05) higher than in the TT plots, while the soil temperature was approximately 1.3 and 1.0 degrees C higher under TT at the 5- and 15-cm depths, respectively, in winter. With these improvements, yields of PRBs appeared to have an increasing trend compared with no-till and TT treatments.
48.
Article Title: The effects of no-tillage with subsoiling on soil properties and maize yield: 12-Year experiment on alkaline soils of Northeast China
免耕深松对东北碱土土壤性状及玉米产量的影响：12年试验研究
Authors: Wang Qingjie; Lu Caiyun; Li Hongwen; He Jin; Sarker, KhokanKumer; Rasaily, Rabi G.; Liang Zhonghui; QiaoXiaodong; Hui, Li; Mchugh, Allen David Jack
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 137 Pages: 43-49
Publication Year: 2014
Abstract: Soil sodicity and salinization are two major issues concerning agricultural production in Northern China and the affected areas are expanding at a rate of 1-1.5 Mha/year. The effects of two treatments, i.e. no-tillage with subsoiling and straw cover (NTSC) and conventional tillage with ploughing and straw removal (CTSR), on soil physical and chemical properties and yields were compared from 1999 to 2011. The results showed that NTSC reduced soil bulk density in the 0-30 cm soil layer, but more importantly the treatment increased total porosity by 20.9%, water stable aggregates and pore size class distribution. The enhance soil structure and improved infiltration in NTSC treatments contributed to reducing soil salinity by 20.3%-73.4% when compared with CTSR. Soil organic matter was significantly greater to 30 cm in NTSC, while total soil nitrogen was lower than CTSR treatments; however, available P was significantly higher in the 0-5 cm soil surface. During the first 3 years, there was no difference in spring maize yield between NTSC and CTSR, but yield significantly increased in NTSC compared with CTSR during the remaining years due to reduced salinity stress and increased soil health. In conclusion, NTSC soil management practices appear to be a more sustainable approach to farming than conventional methods that utilize intensive tillage and crop residue removal. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
49.
Article Title: Thoughts on developing small/medium size no-till equipment for conservation agriculture in Asia: Summary of post-publication peer review comments
关于开发亚洲保护性耕作中小型免耕机器的思考：发表后同行评议
Authors: Jin, He; Li Hongwen; Wang Yingkuan; Zhang Zhiqiang; Wang Qingjie
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 7 Issue: 5 Pages: 139-146
Publication Year: 2014
Abstract: Traditional agriculture bases most of its operations or practices on soil tillage, which causes likely occurrence of water and soil erosion and sediment runoff. In order to conserve soil, water and environment, Conservation agriculture (CA) is increasingly adopted to replace traditional tillage agriculture to achieve sustainable and profitable agriculture and subsequently improve the livelihoods of farmers. CA holds great potential for all sizes of farms and agro-ecological systems, but its adoption is most urgently required by smallholder farmers, especially those short of laborers. Small/medium size no-till machines and implements are the key to CA adoption. A review article on small/medium size no/minimum-till seeders in Asia published in IJABE triggers a lot of scientific conversation on how to develop suitable no-till equipment among peer experts. This paper presents a collection of these post-publication peer review comments including commentary, questions, answers, suggestions, critical thinking, etc. The authors of the review article also provide response, summary of the review comments and their own standpoints. This open post-publication review and commentary may add value to the published review article and provide new ideas useful for future research and development of CA equipment.
50.
Article Title: Effects of Permanent Raised Beds on Soil Chemical Properties in a Wheat-Maize Cropping System
固定道对小麦-玉米种植系统土壤化学性质的影响
Authors: Li Hui; He Jin; Wang Qingjie; Li Hongwen; Sivelli, Amerigo; Lu Caiyun; Lu Zhanyuan; Zheng Zhiqi; Zhang Xiangcai
Source Title: SOIL SCIENCE
Volume: 178 Issue: 1 Pages: 46-53
Publication Year: 2013
Abstract: Traditional tillage (TT) in the North China Plain has maintained grain productivity in the past 50 years. Nonetheless, it has also been a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and soil fertility loss, soil degradation, and even desertification. Permanent raised beds (PRB) have been proposed as a viable solution to achieve sustainable farming in this plain. The effects on soil chemical properties of the PRB treatment and two other treatments, namely, no-tillage and TT treatments, were measured between 2005 and 2011 in the annual double cropping regions of the North China Plain. The soil properties significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the different treatments. Stratification ratios of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available N, available phosphorus, and available potassium under PRB (>1.35) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those under no-tillage and TT. In the cropping zone of PRB, the bulk density was significantly reduced by 14.4%, whereas soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the 0- to 10-cm soil layer were significantly increased by 24.8%, 78.8%, 121.9%, 81.8%, 46.2%, 7.0%, 2.9%, respectively, in comparison with those of TT treatments. Winter wheat and summer maize yields in PRB also underwent a slight increase. Permanent raised beds seem to be an improvement on current farming systems in the North China Plain and valuable for the sustainability of farming in this region.
51.
Article Title: Development strategies of small scale conservation farming practices on two wheeled tractor in Bangladesh
基于孟加拉国两轮式拖拉机的小规模保护性耕作发展战略研究
Authors: Sarker, K. K.; Wang XiaoYan; Li HongWen; Xu ChunLin; Li WenYing; He Jin; Jeff, E. R.; Rasaily, R. G.; Qiao XiaoDong
Source Title: African Journal of Agricultural Research
Volume: 7 Issue: 26 Pages: 3747-3756
Publication Year: 2012
Abstract: Conservation farming (CF) is an important profitable and competitive agriculture. It is essential for smallholder farming in South Asia. Small farmers use two wheeled tractor small seeders due to the fact that they are more cost effective. This review paper aims to assess the practices of small scale CF farm machinery for two-wheeled tractor and to develop strategies for small scale CF in Bangladesh. Research and development works on conservation farming has started and shown that it is possible to increase the soil fertility and crop productivity. Two-wheeled tractor operated small no-till seeders have increased in the last decade. Two wheeled power tiller operated seeders, zero till-seeders, strip till-seeders and bed planter had been tested in the farmer's field and crop yields were found more than farmer's conventional practice. The field performances of these small seeders were found satisfactory as compared to farmer's conventional practice. Considerable amount of planting cost could be saved by introducing CF. Crop residue controls weed growth and N uptake was found significantly higher under mulching as compared to conventional tillage practices. Increased sustainability of conservation farming systems can be established through implementation of development strategies for profitable production with concern of ecological and socioeconomic conditions in Bangladesh.
52.
Article Title: Influence of no tillage controlled traffic system on soil physical properties in double cropping area of North China plain
中国华北平原一年两熟区免耕固定道系统对土壤物理性质的影响
Authors: Rasaily, R. G.; Li HongWen; He Jin; Wang QingJie; Lu CaiYun
Source Title: African Journal of Biotechnology
Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Pages: 856-864
Publication Year: 2012
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of tillage on soil properties in the field of maize (Zea mays L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) annual double cropping region in North China Plain. Measurements were made following six years (2005 to 2010) of three tillage treatments; no till with controlled traffic (NTCT), no till random trafficking (NTRT) and conventional tillage (CT) on a silt loam according to the USDA texture classification system soil in Daxing district, which lies in the suburb of Beijing. Long term no till with controlled traffic significantly (P<0.05) increased macro-aggregates, infiltration rate, soil moisture, together with reductions in soil bulk density, soil compaction in different layers compared with the no till random traffic and traditional mould board tillage treatment currently used in this region. Consequently, mean winter wheat and summer maize yields for the NTCT treatment were improved by 2.8 and 7.1% when compared with the soils under no till random traffic, while huge improvement was found when it was compared with conventional ploughing management (4.2 and 12.08% for wheat and maize, respectively). The long-term experiment demonstrated that no-tillage controlled traffic with residues retained, offers a potentially significant improvement over the current farming systems in annual double cropping areas of North China Plain.
53.
Article Title: Seed Zone Properties and Crop Performance as Affected by Three No-Till Seeders for Permanent Raised Beds in Arid Northwest China
三种固定道垄作免耕播种机对西北干旱地区种区特性及作物性能的影响
Authors: He Jin; Li Hong-wen; McHugh, Allen David; Wang Qing-jie; Li Hui; Rasaily, Rabi Gautam; Sarker, KhokanKumer
Source Title: JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
Volume: 11 Issue: 10 Pages: 1654-1664
Publication Year: 2012
Abstract: The no-till seeders of various soil opener configurations have been shown to produce various soil physical responses in relation to soil and climate conditions, thus affecting crop performance in permanent raised beds (PRB) systems. This is particularly important in arid Northwest China where large volumes of residue are retained on the soil surface after harvest. In Zhangye, Gansu Province, China, a field trial assessed the effects of three typical (powered-chopper, powered-cutter and powered-disc) PRB no-till seeders and one traditional seeder on soil disturbance, residue cover index, bulk density, fuel consumption, plant growth, and subsequent yield. In general, seedbed conditions and crop performance for PRB no-till seeders seeded plots were better than for traditional seeded plots. In PRB cropping system, the powered-chopper seeder decreased mean soil disturbance and increased residue cover index compared to powered-disc and -cutter seeders. However, the results indicated that soil bulk density was 2.3-4.8% higher, soil temperature was 0.2-0.6 degrees C lower, and spring wheat emergence was 3.2-4.7% less. This was attributed to greater levels of residue cover and firmer seedbeds. Spring maize and wheat performance in the powered-cutter and -disc treatments was better (non-significant) than powered-chopper treatment. So powered disc no-till seeder, which generally provided the best planting condition and the highest yield, appeared to be the suitable seeder in heavy residue cover conditions. Considering the precision requirements for soil disturbance and residue cover, the powered strip-chopping no-till seeder could be a suitable option for PRB cropping system in Northwest China. Although these results are preliminary, they are still valuable for the design and selection of no-till seeders for PRB cropping systems in arid Northwest China.
54.
Article Title: Soil properties and crop yields after 11 years of no tillage farming in wheat-maize cropping system in North China Plain
基于华北平原小麦-玉米11年免耕制度下的土壤性状与作物产量研究
Authors: He Jin; Li Hongwen; Rasaily, Rabi G.; Wang Qingjie; Cai Guohua; SuYanbo; QiaoXiaodong; Liu Lijin
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 113 Issue: 1 Pages: 48-54
Publication Year: 2011
Abstract: Soil deterioration and the accompanying decline in crop yields are the main factors limiting the further development of agriculture in North China Plain. The long-term effects of no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) on soil properties and crop yields were investigated in annual double cropping system of winter wheat-summer maize in the Gaocheng in Hebei, North China Plain over a 11-year period (1998-2009). Long-term NT significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil organic matter, available N and Pin the top 10 cm by 16.1%, 31.0% and 29.6% as compared to CT treatment. Mean percentage of macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm, +8.1%) and macroporosity (>60 mu m, +43.3%) was also enhanced statistically (P < 0.05) in the 0-30 cm soil layer. Winter wheat and summer maize yields tended to be 3.5% and 1.4% higher under NT than under CT, particularly in the dry years, suggesting that the change in soil physical properties, soil fertility and moisture has provided a better environment for crop development. These improvements in soil properties and yields are of considerable importance for the degraded soils in semiarid North China Plain, as well as for food security, sustainable agriculture and carbon storage in the annual double cropping areas of China. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
55.
Article Title: Effect of ridge tillage, no-tillage, and conventional tillage on soil temperature, water use, and crop performance in cold and semi-arid areas in Northeast China
垄作、免耕和常规耕作对东北寒冷半干旱地区土壤温度、水分利用和作物产量的影响
Authors: He, Jin; Li, Hongwen; Kuhn, N. J.; Wang, Qingjie; Zhang, Xuemin
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 48 Issue: 8 Pages: 737-744
Publication Year: 2010
Abstract: In cold and semi-arid Northeast China, insufficient soil accumulative temperature and low water use efficiency (WUE) are the limiting factors for the further development of agriculture. Ridge tillage (RT) has been proposed to improve soil temperature and water conservation. Data from a 3-year field experiment conducted at two locations (Sujiatun and Lanxi) in Northeast China were used to compare RT, no-tillage (NT), and conventional tillage (CT) in a spring maize cropping system. At both sites, RT and NT significantly (P<0.05) increased mean soil temperature to 0.10 m depth, relative to CT, by 0.7-2.4 degrees C in the cold season during the spring maize growing stage. Mean soil moisture depletion in the RT treatment was greater by 1.2-4.1% (Sujiatun) and 0.6-3.0% (Lanxi) than in NT and CT, respectively. Mean maize yields over 3 years for RT were similar to 9.9% greater than for CT, whereas the yield advantage in the NT treatment was only slight. In Sujiatun, WUE was 8.0% and 8.6% greater under RT than under NT and CT, respectively, and in Lanxi, WUE was 7.7% and 9.6% greater under RT than NT and CT. Ridge tillage is recommended to the farmers to obtain higher crop yield and WUE in Northeast China.
56.
Article Title: Comparison of soil carbon dioxide emission between controlled and random traffic under conservation tillage
保护性耕作下固定道对土壤二氧化碳排放的影响
Authors: Hu LiFeng; Li HongWen; Zhang XueMin; He Jin
Source Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Pages: 8-13
Publication Year: 2009
Abstract: Conservation tillage is proven to be a useful agricultural practice for reducing the concentration of CO2 released to the atmosphere, but there is currently only limited information regarding the influences of controlled traffic on soil CO2 fluxes. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of controlled traffic on soil CO2 flux and on fuel consumption in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) croplands of northern China. CO2 samples were collected from various compacted areas in the fields, including the crop zone, the inter-row zone and the traffic zone. CO2 flux from the soil surface was measured with a GXH-3010E1 CO2 infrared analyzer during the crop grain filling stage. CO2 fluxes were considerably larger for controlled traffic field (95.046.79) g/(m2.d) than that for random traffic field (50.917.57) g/(m2.d) in the crop zone, but there were no significant differences between random and controlled traffic fields in the inter-row zone. In contrast, in the traffic zone, all fluxes were lower than those in the other areas. Total CO2 fluxes were not significantly different between controlled traffic and random traffic fields. Controlled traffic can reduce fuel consumption by 9.7 L/hm2 compared to random traffic, which implies that it can also reduce the total annual amount of CO2 released from agricultural activities.
57.
Article Title: Controlled traffic farming with no tillage for improved fallow water storage and crop yield on the Chinese Loess Plateau
黄土高原固定道保护性耕作提高休耕蓄水量和作物产量
Authors: Wang Qingjie; Chen Hao; Li Hongwen; Li Wenying; Wang Xiaoyan; McHugh, A. D.; He Jin; Gao Huanwen
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 104 Issue: 1 Pages: 192-197
Publication Year: 2009
Abstract: On the semi-arid Loess Plateau of northern China, water is typically the biggest constraint to rainfed wheat production. Controlled traffic, combined with zero tillage and residue cover has been proposed to improve soil water. crop yield and water use efficiency. From 1998 to 2005, we conducted a field experiment comparing the water storage and wheat productivity of controlled traffic farming and conventional tillage farming. Three treatments were studied: controlled traffic with no tillage and full residue cover (NTCN), controlled traffic with shallow tillage and full residue cover (STCN) and random traffic with traditional tillage and partial residue cover (CT). Compared to CT, the controlled traffic treatments significantly reduced soil bulk density in 10-20 cm soil layer, significantly increased soil water content in the 0-150 cm soil profile at sowing, 9.3% for NTCN, 9.6% for STCN. These effects were greater in dry seasons, thus reducing the yearly variation in water conservation. Consequently. mean wheat yield of NTCN, STCN and CT were 3.25, 3.27 and 3.05 t ha(-1), respectively, in which controlled traffic treatments increased by 6.9% with less yearly variation, compared to traditional tillage. Furthermore, controlled traffic had greater economic benefits than conventional tillage. Within controlled traffic treatments, NTCN showed better overall performance. In conclusion, controlled traffic farming has a better performance with respect to conserving water, improves yields and increases economic benefits. No tillage controlled traffic farming appears to be a solution to the water problem facing farmers on the Loess Plateau of China. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
58.
Article Title: Crop performance as affected by three opening configurations for no-till seeder in annual double cropping regions of northern China
中国北方一年两熟区免耕播种机的三种开沟装置对作物状况的影响
Authors: Yao, Zonglu; Li, Hongwen; Gao, Huanwen; Wang, Xiaoyan; He, Jin
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 47 Issue: 8 Pages: 839-847
Publication Year: 2009
Abstract: The furrow opening configuration used by no-till seeders can have a major effect on crop emergence in conservation tillage systems. This is particularly important in annual double-cropping regions ( winter wheat and summer maize) of northern China where large volumes of residue remain on the soil surface after maize harvesting. This problem has been investigated using 3 different opening configurations for no-till wheat seeding near Beijing in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and assessing performance in terms of soil disturbance, residue cover index, soil cone index, fuel consumption, winter wheat emergence, plant growth, and subsequent yield.In this cropping system, the single-disc opening configuration significantly decreased mean soil disturbance and increased residue cover index compared with the combined strip-chop and strip-till opening configurations, but winter wheat emergence was 6-9% less, probably due to greater levels of residue cover and greater seed zone soil cone index. Winter wheat growth after seeding in combined strip-chop and strip-till seeded plots was faster than that in single-disc seeded plots and mean yield was greater. The most suitable furrow opening configuration in heavy residue cover conditions appeared to be the strip-chop one, which can provide similar crop performance with marginally better fuel economy than the strip-till opening configuration. These results should be seen as preliminary, but they are still valuable for the design and selection of no-till wheat seeders for double cropping in this region of China.
59.
Article Title: Effect of alternative tillage and residue cover on yield and water use efficiency in annual double cropping system in North China Plain
华北平原一年两熟区不同耕作和秸秆覆盖条件对产量和水分利用效率的影响
Authors: He Jin; Wang Qingjie; Li Hongwen; Liu Lijin; Gao Huanwen
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 104 Issue: 1 Pages: 198-205
Publication Year: 2009
Abstract: In the annual double cropping areas of North China Plain, low crop yield and water availability are the main limiting factors to crop production. Conservation tillage has been proposed to improve water conservation and sustain soil productivity. The objectives of the study were to compare conservation tillage (CT) with conventional tillage (CV) under the current double cropping system of corn-winter wheat in the Hebei, North China Plain. The field study consisted of eight conservation tillage treatments and two conventional tillage treatments, with different surface ground cover (0%, 50% and 100%). The tillage treatments consisted of no-till, subsoiling, rototilling and plowing. The CT treatments maintained soil temperatures that were approximately 0.4 degrees C greater during cold condition and about 0.5 degrees C lower during warm condition at 5 and 10 cm soil depths than the CV treatments, respectively. The greatest differences were achieved by the double no-till system with 100% residue cover treatment in terms of soil temperature and crop growth. Winter wheat yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were improved by 6.7% and 30.1% with CT compared to the CV treatments, and for corn, 8.9% and 6.8%, respectively. We conclude that conservation tillage for the annual double cropping system is feasible, and the double no-till with 100% residue cover is the most effective way of improving crop yields and WUE on the North China Plain.
60.
Article Title: Influence of conservation tillage practices on soil properties and crop yields for maize and wheat cultivation in Beijing, China
保护性耕作对中国北京玉米和小麦种植区的土壤性质和作物产量的影响
Authors: Zhang, Xirui; Li, Hongwen; He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Golabi, Mohammad H.
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Pages: 362-371
Publication Year: 2009
Abstract: Conservation tillage is becoming increasingly attractive to farmers because it involves lower production costs than does conventional tillage. The long-term effects of sub-soiling tillage (ST), no tillage (NT), and conventional tillage (CT) on soil properties and crop yields were investigated over an 8-year period (2000-07). The study was conducted in a 2-crop-a-year region (Daxing) and a 1-crop-a-year region (Changping) of the Beijing area in China. At 0-0.30 m soil depth, water stability of macro-aggregates (> 0.25 mm) was much greater for ST (22.1%) and NT (12.0%) than for CT in Daxing, and the improvements in Changping were 18.9% and 9.5%, respectively. ST and NT significantly (P < 0.05) improved aeration porosity by 14.5% and 10.6%, respectively, at Daxing and by 17.0% and 8.6% at Changping compared with CT treatment. Soil bulk density after 8 years was 0.8-1.5% lower in ST and NT treatments than in CT at both sites. Soil organic matter and available N and P followed the same order ST approximate to NT > CT at both sites. Consequently, crop yields in ST and NT plots were higher than in CT plots due to improved soil physical and chemical properties. Within the conservation tillage treatments, despite similar economic benefit, the effects on crop yields for ST were better than for NT. Mean (2000-07) crop yields for ST were 0.2% and 1.5% higher than for NT at Daxing and Changping, respectively. We therefore conclude that ST is the most suitable conservation tillage practice for annual 2-crop-a-year and 1-crop-a-year regions in the Beijing area.
61.
Article Title: Soil physical properties and infiltration after long-term no-tillage and ploughing on the Chinese Loess Plateau
中国黄土高原长期免耕地的土壤物理特性和入渗情况
Authors: He, Jin; Wang, Qingjie; Li, Hongwen; Tullberg, J. N.; McHugh, A. D.; Bai, Yuhua; Zhang, Xuemin; McLaughlin, Neil; Gao, Huanwen
Source Title: NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF CROP AND HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Pages: 157-166
Publication Year: 2009
Abstract: Water is the most limiting factor for crop production in dryland farming. A better understanding of the long-term impact of tillage and residue management systems on soil structure and water infiltration is necessary for the further development of conservation tillage practice to improve water use efficiency. The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of no-till with residue retention (NT) and conventional (plough) tillage with residue removal (CT) on soil properties and soil water transmission characteristics in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) monoculture system in Shanxi, on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Soil physical parameter measurements were made in the top 30 cm depth in September 2007 after 16 years under the two tillage treatments. Compared with CT treatment, NT significantly (P < 0.05) reduced soil bulk density (7.1%) in the 20-30 cm soil layer, and increased macroporosity (>60 mu m, 17.0%) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (249%) in the 15-30 cm soil layer. There were no significant differences in these soil physical properties between tillage systems in the 0-15 cm layer. In addition, plant available water and water infiltration rate were greater in the NT treatment. The improved soil quality parameters and water infiltration from this long-term experiment indicate that no-tillage with residue retention is a promising farming system for the dryland farming areas of northern China.
62.
Article Title: Soil chemical properties and microbial biomass after 16 years of no-tillage fanning on the Loess Plateau, China
中国黄土高原免耕16年后的土壤化学特性和微生物量的变化情况
Authors: Wang, Qingjle; Bai, Yuhua; Gao, Huanwen; He, Jin; Chen, Hao; Chesney, R. C.; Kuhn, N. J.; Li, Hongwen
Source Title: GEODERMA
Volume: 144 Issue: 3-4 Pages: 502-508
Publication Year: 2008
Abstract: Data from a 16-year field experiment conducted in Shanxi, on the Chinese Loess Plateau, were used to compare the long-term effects of no-tillage with straw cover (NTSC) and traditional tillage with straw removal (TTSR) in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monoculture. Longtermno-tillage with straw cover increased SOM by 21.7% and TN by 51.0% at 0-10 cm depth and available P by 97.3% at 0-5 cm depth compared to traditional tillage. Soil microbial biomass C and N increased by 135.3% and 104.4% with NTSC compared to TTSR for 0-10 cm depth, respectively. Under NTSC, the metabolic quotient (CO2 evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 45.1% on average in the top 10 cm soil layer, which suggests that TTSR produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NTSC. Consequently, winter wheat yield was about 15.5% higher under NTSC than under TTSR. The data collected from our 16-year experiment show that NTSC is a more sustainable farming system which can improve soil chemical properties, microbial biomass and activity, and thus increase crop yield in the rainfed dryland farming areas of northern China. The soil processes responsible for the improved yields and soil quality, in particular soil organic matter, require further research. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
63.
Article Title: Spring wheat performance and water use efficiency on permanent raised beds in arid northwest China
中国西北干旱地区固定道垄作的春小麦表现和水分利用效率
Authors: He, Jin; Li, Hongwen; Mchugh, A. D.; Ma, Zhongmin; Cao, Xinhui; Wang, Qingjie; Zhang, Xuemin; Zhang, Xirui
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 46 Issue: 8 Pages: 659-666
Publication Year: 2008
Abstract: Permanent raised beds have been proposed as a more productive and water-efficient alternative to the conventional system offlat, flood-irrigated bays for planting narrow-spaced crops in arid north-west China. Data from a field experiment (2005-2007) conducted in the Hexi Corridor at Zhangye, Gansu Province, China, were used to compared the effects of traditional tillage (TT), zero tillage (ZT), and permanent raised beds (PRB) on crop growth, yield, and water use in a spring wheat monoculture. The results show that PRB significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil water content to 0.30m depth by 7.2-10.7% and soil temperature to 0.05m depth by 0.2-0.98C during the wheat-growing period relative to TT and ZT treatments. Bulk density in 0-0.10m soil layer under PRB was also 5.8% less than for. at planting treatments. Mean wheat yields over 3 years on PRB plots were slightly greater and furrow irrigation in permanent beds was particularly effective in increasing irrigation water use efficiency (similar to 18%), compared with TT and ZT treatments. This increase in water use efficiency is of considerable importance for these arid areas where irrigation water resources are scarce.
64.
Article Title: Traffic and tillage effects on runoff and soil loss on the Loess Plateau of northern China
固定道和耕作对中国北方黄土高原径流和土壤流失的影响
Authors: Wang, Xiaoyan; Gao, Huanwen; Tullberg, J. N.; Li, Hongwen; Kuhn, Nikolaus; Mchugh, A. D.; Li, Yuxia
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 46 Issue: 8 Pages: 667-675
Publication Year: 2008
Abstract: This paper reports the outcome of 5 years of field plot runoff monitoring, 2 years of water erosion measurement, and a rainfall simulation experiment on moderately sloping farmland on the loess plateau of north-west China. The objective was to test different conservation tillage systems compared with the control treatment, conventional mouldboard plough practice (CK). Tillage, residue cover, and compaction effects were assessed in terms of runoff and soil erosion. Results from the runoff plots showed that conservation tillage, with more residue cover, less compaction, and less soil disturbance, could substantially reduce runoff and soil erosion compared with the control. No tillage with residue cover and no compaction produced the least runoff and soil erosion. Compared with the control, it reduced runoff and soil erosion by about 40% and 80%, respectively. At the start of the experiment, residue cover appeared to be the most important factor affecting soil and water conservation, particularly when antecedent soil moisture was limited. With the accumulation of tractor wheeling effects over the course of the experiment, soil compaction appeared to become a more important factor affecting runoff. Rainfall simulation was then used to assess the effect of non-inverting surface tillage and different levels of residue cover and wheel compaction on in filtration and runoff. This confirmed that wheel compaction effects could be greater than those of tillage and residue cover, at least under the 82.5 mm/h rainfall rate produced by the simulator. The wheeling effect was particularly large when the treatment was applied to wet soil, and severe even after wheeling by small tractors.
65.
Article Title: Traffic and tillage effects on wheat production on the Loess Plateau of China: 1. Crop yield and SOM
固定道和耕作对中国黄土高原小麦产量的影响：1.作物产量和土壤有机质
Authors: Chen, Hao; Bai, Yuhua; Wang, Qingjie; Chen, Fu; Li, Hongwen; Tullberg, J. N.; Murray, J. R.; Gao, Huanwen; Gong, Yuanshi
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 46 Issue: 8 Pages: 645-651
Publication Year: 2008
Abstract: Challenges for dryland farming on the Loess Plateau of China are continuous nutrient loss, low soil organic matter and crop yield, and soil degradation. Controlled traffic, combined with zero or minimum tillage and residue cover, has been proposed to improve soil structure and crop yield. From 1998 to 2006, we conducted a field experiment comparing soil organic matter and wheat productivity between controlled traffic and conventional tillage farming systems. The field experiment was conducted using 2 controlled traffic treatments (zero tillage with residue cover and no compaction, shallow tillage with residue cover and no compaction) and a conventional tillage treatment. Results showed that controlled traffic treatments significantly increased soil organic matter and microbial biomass in the 0-0.30m soil pro. le. Controlled traffic with zero tillage significantly increased total N in the 0-0.05m soil profile. The mean yield over 8 years of controlled traffic treatments was > 10% greater than that of conventional tillage. Controlled traffic farming appears to be a solution to the cropping problems faced on the Loess Plateau of China.
66.
Article Title: Effects of 15 years of conservation tillage on soil structure and productivity of wheat cultivation in northern China
15年的保护性耕作对中国北方小麦种植地区的土壤结构和生产力的影响
Authors: Li, Hongwen; Gao, Huanwen; Wu, Hongdan; Li, Wenying; Wang, Xiaoyan; He, Jin
Source Title: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL RESEARCH
Volume: 45 Issue: 5 Pages: 344-350
Publication Year: 2007
Abstract: An understanding of long-term tillage and straw management impact on soil structure and productivity is necessary for the further development of conservation tillage practice in dryland farming areas. Data from a 15-year field experiment conducted in Shanxi, on the loess plateau of northern China, were used to compare the long-term effects of no-till and residue cover (NTSC) with conventional tillage (CT) in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monoculture.Long-term CT and straw removal resulted in poor soil structure and low productivity. Mean soil bulk density in NTSC was 1.5% less than in CT and capillary porosity (<60 mu m) 3.2% greater. Water stability of macro-aggregates >2mm was much greater for NTSC in the 0-0.20 m profile. Soil organic matter and total N and P were 27.9%, 25.6%, and 4.4% greater in NTSC, respectively, and earthworms (19/m(2)) were found only in the no tillage treatment.Crop yield and water use efficiency tended to be higher under NTSC than under CT, especially in the years of low rainfall, suggesting that the change in soil structure has provided a better environment for crop development. Our 15-year experimental data indicate that NTSC is a more sustainable farming system, which can improve soil structure, and increase productivity with positive environmental impacts in the rainfed dryland farming areas of northern China.
67.
Article Title: Soil loosening on permanent raised-beds in arid northwest China
中国西北干旱地区固定道保护性耕作条件下土壤疏松技术研究
Authors: He Jin; Li HongWen; Kuhn, N. J.; Zhang XueMin; Li WenYing
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 97 Issue: 2 Pages: 172-183
Publication Year: 2007
Abstract: Poor lateral water infiltration into permanently raised beds (PRB) can reduce crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in dryland agriculture. Especially for densely planted crops the reduced soil moisture affects seedling emergence and causes slow crop growth. Soil loosening with three different types of cutters was tested to overcome this problem of wide PRB in this study. A field experiment with five treatments (traditional tillage, bed without soil loosening, bed with soil loosening by two-edge cutter, bed with soil loosening by flat cutter and bed with soil loosening by V-shaped cutter) was conducted in the Hexi Corridor, northwest China, on spring wheat in 2005 and 2006. The effects of soil loosening and the performances of the three cutters were assessed based on 2 years of soil moisture, bulk density, temperature, spring wheat growth, yield, WUE, power and fuel consumption data. Soil loosening significantly increased lateral water infiltration and thus improved soil water content by 3-8% to 100 cm depth and soil temperature by 0.2-0.4°C to 30 cm depth compared to beds without soil loosening on sandy-loam soil in 100 cm wide bed systems. Furthermore, bulk density at 10-20 cm depth was about 7.4% lower for bed with soil loosening treatments than for bed without soil loosening. The best results were achieved by the V-shaped cutter, which at a slight additional fuel consumption of 0.46-0.84 l ha-1 offered the greatest benefits to spring wheat yield and WUE. Spring wheat yields increased by 5% and WUE improved by 38% compared to traditional tillage due to higher soil moisture and temperature, lower bulk density and faster growth. The improvements in WUE have tremendous implications in the arid areas of northwest China where agriculture relies heavily on irrigation, but water resources are scarce. We conclude therefore that soil loosening by V-shaped cutter is an efficient way to remove poor water infiltration, and significantly improve yield and WUE for wide beds under PRB farming system in arid areas of northwest China.
68.
Article Title: The adoption of annual subsoiling as conservation tillage in dryland maize and wheat cultivation in northern China
中国北方旱地玉米和小麦种植区每年深松的效应研究
Authors: He Jin; Li Hongwen; Wang Xiaoyan; McHugh, A. D.; Li Wenying; Gao Huanwen; Kuhn, N. J.
Source Title: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
Volume: 94 Issue: 2 Pages: 493-502
Publication Year: 2007
Abstract: Soil compaction caused by random traffic or repetitive tillage has been shown to reduce water use efficiency, and thus crop yield due to reduced porosity, decreased water infiltration and availability of nutrients. Conservation tillage coupled with subsoiling in northern China is widely believed to reduce soil compaction, which was created after many years of no-till. However, limited research has been conducted on the most effective time interval for subsoiling, under conservation tillage. Data from conservation tillage demonstration sites operating for 10 years in northern China were used to conduct a comparative study of subsoiling interval under conservation tillage. Three modes of traditional tillage, subsoiling with soil cover and no-till with soil cover were compared using 10 years of soil bulk density, water content, yield and water use efficiency data. Cost benefit analysis was conducted on subsoiling time interval under conservation tillage. Yield and power consumption were assessed by based on the use of a single pass combine subsoiler and planter. Annual subsoiling was effective in reducing bulk density by only 4.9% compared with no-till treatments on the silty loam soils of the Loess plateau, but provided no extra benefit in terms of soil water loss, yield increase or water utilization. With the exception of bulk density, no-till and subsoiling with cover were vastly superior in increasing water use (+10.5%) efficiency and yield (+12.9%) compared to traditional tillage methods. Four years of no-till followed by one subsoiling reduced mechanical inputs by 62%, providing an economic benefit of 49% for maize and 209% for wheat production compared to traditional tillage. Annual subsoiling reduced inputs by 25% with an increased economic benefit of 23% for maize and 135% for wheat production. Yield and power consumption was improved by 5% and 20%, respectively, by combining subsoiling with the planting operation in one pass compared with multipass operations of subsoiling and planting. A key conclusion from this is that annual subsoiling in dryland areas of northern China is uneconomical and unwarranted. Four years of no-till operations followed by I year subsoiling provided some relief from accumulated soil compaction. However, minimum soil disturbance and maximum soil cover are key elements of no-till for saving water and improving yields. Improved yields and reduced farm power consumption could provide a significant base on which to promote combined planter and subsoiling operations throughout northern China. Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the linkages between conservation tillage, soil quality and yield, aimed at designing most appropriate conservation tillage schemes.