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.
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Thin films of CuPc of various thicknesses (150,300 and 450) nm have been deposited using pulsed laser deposition technique at room temperature. The study showed that the spectra of the optical absorption of the thin films of the CuPc are two bands of absorption one in the visible region at about 635 nm, referred to as Q-band, and the second in ultra-violet region where B-band is located at 330 nm. CuPc thin films were found to have direct band gap with values around (1.81 and 3.14 (eV respectively. The vibrational studies were carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Finally, From open and closed aperture Z-scan data non-linear absorption coefficient and non-linear refractive index have been calculated res
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Colloidal crystals (opals) made of close-packed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were fabricated and grown by Template-Directed methods to obtain porous materials with well-ordered periodicity and interconnected pore systems to manufacture photonic crystals. Opals were made from aqueous suspensions of monodisperse PMMA spheres with diameters between 280 and 415 nm. SEM confirmed the PMMA spheres crystallized uniformly in a face-centered cubic (FCC) array. Optical properties of synthesized pores PMMA were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy. It shows that the colloidal crystals possess pseudo photonic band gaps in the visible region. A combination of Bragg’s law of diffraction and Snell’s law of refraction were used to calculate t
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Diamond-like carbon (DLC) homogeneous thin films were deposited from cyclohexane (Ccyclohexane (Ccyclohexane (Ccyclohexane (C cyclohexane (Ccyclohexane (Ccyclohexane (C cyclohexane (Ccyclohexane (C 6H12 ) liquid by using a plasma jet system which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5 which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5 which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5 which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5 which operates with alternating high voltage 7.5which operates with al
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The Influence of annealing temperature on the optical properties of (CuInSe2) thin films was studied. Thermal evaporation in vacuum technique has been used for films deposited on glass substrates, these films were annealed in vacuum at (100C°, 200C°) for (2 hours). The optical properties were studied in the range (300-900) nm. The obtained results revealed a reduction in energy band gap with annealing temperature . optical parameters such as reflectance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant, skin depth and optical conductivity are investigated before and after annealing. It was found that all these parameters were affected by annealing temperature.
Solutions of dyes Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and Coumarin480(C480) were prepared at five concentrations (1x10-3, 5x10-4, 1x10-4, 5x10-5 and1x10-5) mol/l, the mixing was stirred to obtain on a homogenous solution, the(poly methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) was solved by chloroform solvent with certain ratio, afterward (PMMA+Rh6G) and (PMMA+C480) thin films were prepared by casting method on glass block which has substrate with dimensions (7.5 x2.5)cm2, the prepared samples were left in dark place at room temperature for 24 hours to obtain uniform and homogenous thin films. UV-VIS absorption spectra, transmission spectra and fluorescence spectra were done to measure linear refractive index and linear absorption coefficient. The nonlinear optical proper
... Show MoreThe Silver1Indium1Selenide (AgInSe2) (AIS) thin1films of (3001±20) nm thickness have been1prepared2from the compound alloys2using thermal evaporation2 technique onto the glass2substrate at room temperature, with a deposition rate2(3±0.1) nm2sec-1.
The2structural, optical and electrical3properties have been studied3at different annealing3temperatures (Ta=450, 550 and 650) K.
The amount3or (concentration) of the elements3(Ag, In, Se) in the prepared alloy3was verified using an
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X-ray diffraction pattern reveled the tetragonal crystal system of SnO2 Thin films of SnO2 were prepared on glass substrates using Spray Pyrolysis Technique. The absorption and transmition spectra were recorded in the rang of 300-900nm, the spectral dependences of absorption coefficient were calculated from transmission spectra. The direct and allowed optical energy gap has been evaluated from plots of (αhυ)² vs. (hυ) . The energy gap was found to be 2.4-2.6eV. The optical constant such as extinction coefficient( k ) and absorption coefficient ( α) have been evaluated.
Additive aluminum powder to the polystyrene to prepare the composites Polystyrene– Aluminum.The samples were prepared by using mechanical compressed method at low pressure and a temperature 120°C. Measurements of absorbance and reflectance spectra were carried out by UV-Visible spectrophotometer , the effect of additive aluminum on the optical band gap Eop and optical constants ( refractive index n, extinction coefficient k ,dielectric constant ε and optical conductivity σop) were studied for the prepared composites . Results showed a decrease in the Eop with increasing perc
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