Despite problems of low fruit set, small fruit size and alternate bearing, the Hass cultivar dominates commercial avocado production worldwide. To increase yield and fruit size, gibberellic acid (GA3) (25 mg L−1) was applied at different stages of ‘Hass’ avocado tree phenology: (i) mid–late April (flower abscission), end of June–beginning of July (fruit abscission and beginning of the exponenti...

We analyse output risk in Italian agriculture over the period 18701914. We use data on a set of 16 tenanted plots grouped into three farms comprising a single large estate. We estimate the degree of risk associated with each separate crop, with the portfolio of crops at the level of the plot, the farm and the estate. We highlight two particular features: the relatively high risk associated with...

Cover crop nitrogen (N) cycling has an important role in agricultural production and contributes to peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] N nutrition. This study evaluated black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) residue decomposition dynamics, recovery from cover residues, compartmentalization tree organs. A 2-year field trial was developed with labeled (3.6–4.0 atom% 15...

feijoa as a fruit crop and ornamental tree is cultivated in the subtropics and warm temperate areas of the world including brazil, united states, new zealand and japan. a new disease with brown rot symptom on fruit occurred in feijoa orchards of northern iran in which it has become popular as a fruit crop. the objective of the present study was isolation and identification of the causal pathoge...

Multi-source information fusion usually deals with redundant sources; the goal is to aggregate decisions, or evidence which supports one or another class. Many frameworks are then available: OWA, fuzzy integrals, etc. In this paper we are interested in managing complementary information sources. The integration is done using a fuzzy rule base. The rules are generated using a fuzzy decision tree...

Starting in 2009, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) began the process of generating annual crop type digital maps using satellite imagery. Focusing on the Prairie Provinces in 2009 and 2010, a Decision Tree (DT) based methodology was applied using optical (Landsat, Resourcesat-1, DMC, SPOT) and radar (Radarsat-2) imagery. Starting with the 2011 growing season, this activity was extended t...

Conceptual models accounting for the influence of source:sink ratio on water relations of trees are theoretically relevant from a physiological perspective and practically important for irrigation scheduling. Midday stem water potential of horticultural trees often declines with increasing crop load but the actual response depends on environmental, management and plant factors. Here we advance ...

Carabid beetles and ground-dwelling spiders inhabiting agroecosystems are beneficial organisms with a potential to control pest species. Intensification of agricultural management and reduction of areas covered by non-crop vegetation during recent decades in some areas has led to many potentially serious environmental problems including a decline in the diversity and abundance of beneficial art...