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Model for predicting the flowering stage and honey potential yield of sunflower and rapeseed crops

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  • Beekeeping Research and Development Institut, Romania, Bucharest

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This paper describes a model for predicting the dates of the beginning and end of flowering stage and the honey potential yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera) crops. The prognosis of flowering stage is based on "thermal time" (TT) measured in "growing degrees-day" (GDD), determined by the daily biologically active temperature that is related to "base temperature" (species parameter) and "corrected" average daily temperature. The prognosis parameters (crop stage TT thresholds and honey potential yield) are specific to each variety, maturity class (four classes for each species) and climatic type of crop year (four types). The (re-) calibration of the prognosis parameters is performed by averaging the crop historical data that are accumulated during model use ("self-improving" model). Four calibration methods of different accuracy are used for that, depending on available data. The prognosis of meteorological data is performed based on the historical data of the years of the given climatic type estimated by user for the prognosis year. The prognoses of the flowering stage and honey potential yield are based on the calibrated parameters, estimated meteorological data for the prognosis year, and sowing data specified by user. Some results concerning model calibration and validation are also presented in the paper.
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... The pastoral beekeeping planning aims at scheduling the emplacement of a number of beehives corresponding to the melliferous potential of each melliferous resource (agricultural crop or tree species), having different objectives: all beehives to have enough melliferous resources for both their own food and for maximum possible trading honey, not to remain unutilized melliferous resources, minimizing the beehive transport costs, that is minimizing the moving distances and others [3]. Many characteristics of the problem of pastoral beekeeping planning [1,2,3,6,7] determine it to be considered a "poorly-structured" problem [4,5]: ...
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The objective of this research was to develop a prognosis support system that provides users with predictions of the dates of the beginning and end of flowering stage and the honey potential yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) crops. It is emphasized that this prognosis is a "poor-structured" problem and it can be solved most advantageously by a tool of "decision support system" type. The prognosis method of the flowering stage is based on "thermal time" (TT) measured in "growing degree-days". The model of calculation of the daily biologically active temperature for TT summations uses a "base temperature" of 6.7 °C and a correction of the average daily temperature. Three TT thresholds are defined: (1) sowing – emergence, (2) emergence – beginning of flowering, and (3) beginning – end of flowering. These TT thresholds and the honey potential yield – the prognosis parameters – are specific to hybrids, maturity class of hybrids (four classes) and to climatic types of crop years (four types). The (re-) calibration of the prognosis parameters is performed by averaging the sunflower crops historical data that are accumulated during system use (in that way a "self-improving" system is obtained). Four estimation methods of different accuracies are used. The prognosis of meteorological data is performed based on the historical data of the years of the given climatic type estimated by user for the prognosis year. The prognoses of the flowering stage and honey potential yield are based on the calibrated parameters, estimated meteorological data for the prognosis year, and sowing data specified by user.
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Includes summary. Thesis (M. Sc. (Agric.)) (Plant Production)--University of Pretoria, 2004. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-120).
Results on the flowering stage in the Romanian-grown sunflower hybrids
  • V Ion
  • V Stefan
  • Nicoleta Ion
Ion V., V. Stefan, Nicoleta Ion, 2007. Results on the flowering stage in the Romanian-grown sunflower hybrids. Scientific Papers Zootechny and Biotechnologies, Timisoara, v.40 (2), pp.91-100.
Environmental and agronomic factors affect on the growth of rape leaves in autumn. 10 th Int'l Rapeseed Congress
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  • C Rife
Sidlauskas G., C.Rife. 1999. Environmental and agronomic factors affect on the growth of rape leaves in autumn. 10 th Int'l Rapeseed Congress (1999, Canberra, Australia). The Regional Institute Ltd., 7 pp.
Canola Growers Manual
  • P Thomas
Thomas P., 2003. Canola Growers Manual, Chapter 5-Temperature, Frost, Hail.