Nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate is important for high yield and good quality of potato tubers. In this dissertation, I seek to study the response of different potato cultivars under different N fertilizer rates and how that can impact tuber quality, examine the performance of active optical sensors in improving a potato yield prediction algorithm, and evaluate the ability of active optical sensors (GreenSeeker (GS) and Crop Circle (CC)) to optimize a N recommendation algorithm that can be used by potato growers in Maine. This research was conducted at 11 sites over a period of two years (2018–2019) in Aroostook County, Maine; all sites depended on a rainfed system. Three potato cultivars, Russet Burbank, Superior, and Shepody, were planted under six rates of N (0-280 kg ha-1), ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate, and were applied in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Active optical sensor readings (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)) were collected weekly after the fourth leaf stage began. The coefficient of determination (R2) between soil organic matter (OM) content and total tuber yield for all sites combined was 0.78**. Sites with ≥ 30 g kg-1 of soil OM produced higher total tuber yield, marketable yield, and tuber weight per plant (39.45%, 45.22%, and 54.94%, respectively) than sites with ≤ 30 g kg-1 of OM. Specific gravity increased by 0.18% in the sites with ≥ 30 g kg-1 of OM. The total tuber yield for the three cultivars was maximized at 168 kg N ha-1. Vegetation indices measurements obtained at stages of 16 or 20 fully expanded leaves were significantly correlated with tuber yield, which can be used in the yield prediction model. Sensor measurements obtained at the 20th leaf stage were significantly correlated with tuber yield, with the exponential model showing the best fit for the regression curve. The recommended N rate calculated based on in-season sensor readings was reduced by approximately 12–14% compared to the total N rate that growers currently apply based on the conventional approach.
Thin films of (Cu2S)100-x( SnS2 )x at X=[ 30,40, &50)]% with thickness (0.9±0.03)µm , had been prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis method on glass substrates at 573 K. These films were then annealed under low pressure of(10-2) mbar ,373)423&473)K for one hour . This research includes , studying the the optical properties of (Cu2S)100-x-(SnS2)x at X=[ 30,40, &50)]% .Moreover studying the effect of annealing on their optical properties , in order to fabricate films with high stability and transmittance that can be used in solar cells. The transmittance and absorbance spectra had been recorded in the wavelength range (310 - 1100) nm in order to study the optical properties . It was found that these films had direct optical band
... Show MoreThe structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnS films prepared by vacuum evaporation technique on glass substrate at room temperature and treated at different annealing temperatures (323, 373, 423)K of thickness (0.5)µm have been studied. The structure of these films is determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The X-ray diffraction studies show that the structure is polycrystalline with cubic structure, and there are strong peaks at the direction (111). The optical properties investigated which include the absorbance and transmittance spectra, energy band gab, absorption coefficient, and other optical constants. The results showed that films have direct optical transition. The optical band gab was found to be in the range t
... Show MoreIn this research study the effect of irradiation by (CW) CO2 laser on some optical properties of (Cds) doping by Ni thin films of (1)µm thickness has been prepared by heat evaporation method. (X-Ray) diffraction technique showed the prepared films before and after irradiation are ploy crystalline hexagonal structure, optical properties were include recording of absorbance spectra for prepared films in the range of (400-1000) nm wave lengths, the absorption coefficient and the energy gap were calculated before and after irradiation, finally the irradiation affected (CdS) thin films by changing its color from the Transparent yellow to dark rough yellow and decrease the value absorption coefficient also increase the value of energy gap.
ABSTRACT:In this paper, Cd10–xZnxS (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) films were deposited by using chemical spray pyrolysis technique, the molar concentration precursor solution was 0.15 M/L. Depositions were done at 350°C on cleaned glass substrates. X-ray dif- fraction technique (XRD) studies for all the prepared film; all the films are crystalline with hexagonal structure .The optical properties of the prepared films were studied using measurements from VIS-UV-IR spectrophotometer at wave- length with the range 300 - 900 nm; the average transmission of the minimum doping ratio (Zn at 0.1%) was about 55% in the VIS region, it was decrease at the increasing of Zn concentration in the CdS films, The band gap of the doped CdS films was varied as 3.7, 3
... Show MoreSb2S3 thin films have been prepared by chemical bath deposition on a glas sub Absorbance and transmittance spectra were recorded in the wavelength range (30-900) nm. The effects of thickness on absorption coefficient, reflectance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant were estimated. It was found that the reflectivity, absorption coefficient , extinction coefficient, real part of dielectric constant and refractive index, all these parameters decrease as the thickness increased, while the imaginary part of the dielectric constant increase as the thickness incre
... Show MoreIn this research Bi2S3 thin films have been prepared on glass substrates using chemical spray pyrolysis method at substrate temperature (300oC) and molarity (0.015) mol. Structural and optical properties of the thin films above have been studied; XRD analysis demonstrated that the Bi2S3 films are polycrystalline with (031) orientation and with Orthorhombic structure. The optical properties were studied using the spectral of the absorbance and transmission of films in wavelength ranging (300-1100) nm. The study showed that the films have high transmission within the range of the visible spectrum. Also absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient and the optical energy gap (Eg) was calculated, found that the film have direct ener
... Show MoreAn optimization calculation is made to find the optimum properties of combined quadrupole lens which consists of electrostatic and magnetic lens. Both chromatic and spherical aberration coefficients are reduced to minimum values and the achromatic aberration is found for many cases. These calculations are achieved with the aid of transfer matrices method and using rectangular model of field distribution, where the path of charged-particles beam traversing the field has been determined by solving the trajectory equation of motion and then the optical properties for lens have been computed with the aid of the beam trajectory along the lens axis. The computations have been concentrated on determining the chromatic and spher
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