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.
BaTiO3 thin films have been deposited on Si (111) and glass substrates by using pulsed laser deposition technique. The films were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscope and optical transmission spectra. The films growth on Si after annealing at 873K showed a polycrystalline nature, and exhibited tetragonal structure, while on glass substrate no growth was noticed at that temperature. UV-VIS transmittance measurements showed that the films are highly transparent in the visible wavelength region and near-infrared region for sample annealing on glass substrate. The optical gap of the film were calculated from the curve of absorption coefficient (αhν) 2 vs. hν and was found tobe 3.6 eV at substrate temperature 5
... Show MoreThe structural, optical properties of copper oxide thin films ( CuO) thin films which have been prepared by thermal oxidation with exist air once and oxygen another have been studied. Structural analysis results of Cu thin films demonstrate that the single phase of Cu with high a crystalline structure with a preferred orientation (111). X-ray diffraction results confirm the formation of pure (CuO) phase in both methods of preparation. The optical constant are investigated and calculated such as absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient and the dielectric constants for the wavelengths in the range (300-1100) nm.
Chlorine doped SnS have been prepared utilizing chemical spray pyrolysis. The effects of chlorine concentration on the optical constants were studied. It was seen that the transmittance decreased with doping, while reflectance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant were increased as the doping percentage increased. The results show also that the skin depth decrease as the chlorine percentage increased which could be assure that it is transmittance related.
Polyaniline membranes of aniline were produced using an electrochemical method in a cell consisting of two poles. The effect of the vaccination was observed on the color of membranes of polyaniline, where analysis as of blue to olive green paints. The sanction of PANI was done by FT-IR and Raman techniques. The crystallinity of the models was studied by X-ray diffraction technique. The different electronic transitions of the PANI were determined by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity of the manufactured samples was measured by using the four-probe technique at room temperature. Morphological studies have been determined by Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The structural studies have been measured by (SEM).
The research aims to develop the best possible design for the widely used Cassegrain telescope. The system consists of two models of different designs: (a) the telescope consists of a Maksutov lens, a spherical primary mirror, and a secondary mirror attached to the lens; (b) it consists of a Maksutov lens and a spherical primary mirror, plus a non-lens attached secondary mirror located between the lens and the primary mirror. The image was evaluated and analyzed using the analysis tools in Zemax software. The results of the two designs showed that the telescope whose secondary mirrors are not adjacent to the Maksutov lens produces high quality image that is almost free from aberration, and then comes the telescope whose secondary mirrors
... Show MoreIn this work, MWCNT in the epoxy can be prepared at room temperature and thickness (1mm) at different concentration of CNTs powder. Optical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced epoxy have been measured in the range of (300-800)nm. The electronic transition in pure epoxy and CNT/epoxy indicated direct allowed transition. Also, it is found that the energy gap of epoxy is 4.1eV and this value decreased within range of (4.1-3.5)eV when the concentration of CNT powder increased from (0.001-0.1)% respectively.
The optical constants which include (the refractive index (n), the extinction coefficient (k), real (ε1) and imaginarily (ε2) part of dielectric constant calculated in the of (300-800)nm at different concent
The effect of α-particle irradiation on the optical absorption in nuclear track detectors (LR115) has been studied. These detectors have been irradiated with different doses. The optical absorption has been measured using the ultraviolet-visible (UV-1100) spectroscopy, that irradiation results in shifting the peaks of the optical absorption. The values of Urbach energy have been calculated from the position of steady-state optical band gap energy, for a standard sample which was unirradiated with indirect influence, has been found 1.9 eV whereas its value after irradiation 1.98 eV. In case of the direct influence, it is found to be, respectively, before irradiation 1.98 eV and after irradiation 2.05 eV. From these results, we can
... Show MoreIn this work, we have investigated optical properties of the thermally evaporation PbS/CdS thin films. The optical constant such as (refractive index n, dielectric constant εi,r and Extinction coefficient κ) of the deposition films were obtained from the analysis of the experimental recorded transmittance spectral data. The optical band gap of PbS/CdS films is calculate from (αhυ)1/2 vs. photon energy curve.
In this work, the structure properties of nano Lead sulfide PbS thin films are studied. Thin samples were prepared by pulse laser deposition and deposited on glass substrates at wavelength 1064nm wavelength with a various laser energies (200,300,400,500)nm. The study of atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray diffraction as well as the effect of changing the laser energy on the structural properties has been studied. It has been observed that the membrane formed is of the polycrystalline type and the predominant phase is the plane (111) and (200). The minimum grain size obtained was 16.5 nm at a laser energy about 200 mJ. The results showed that thin films of average granular sizes (75 nm) could be prepared.As for the optical properties,
... Show MoreIn this work, chemical oxidation was used to polymerize conjugated polymer "Polypyrrole" at room temperature Graphene nanoparticles were added by in situ-polymerization to get (PPY-GN) nano. Optical and Electrical properties were studied for the nanocomposites. optical properties of the nanocomposites were studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy at wavelength range (200 -800 nm). The result showed optical absorption spectra were normally determined and the result showed that the maximum absorbance wave length at 280nm and 590nm. The optical energy gap has been evaluated by direct transition and the value has decreased from (2.1 eV for pure PPy) to (1.3 eV for 5 %wt. of GN). The optical constants such as the band tail width ΔE was evaluated, the
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