This study evaluated corn kernel drying performance and quality changes using hot air drying(HAD)and infrared drying(ID)across temperatures ranging from 55℃ to 80℃.Optimal drying parameters were determined by using ...This study evaluated corn kernel drying performance and quality changes using hot air drying(HAD)and infrared drying(ID)across temperatures ranging from 55℃ to 80℃.Optimal drying parameters were determined by using the entropy weight method,with drying time,specific energy consumption,damage rate,fatty acids,starch,polyphenols,and flavonoids as indicators.Results demonstrated that ID significantly outperformed HAD,achieving drying times up to 20%shorter and reducing specific energy consumption and kernel damage by up to 79.3%and 66.7%,respectively,while also better preserving quality attributes.Both methods exhibited drying profiles characterized by acceleration,constant,and falling rate periods,although the constant rate phase was distinctly observable only at lower temperatures.The effective moisture diffusivity under ID was consistently higher than that under HAD,with a maximum increase of 20.4%.The optimal drying conditions were HAD at 65℃ and ID at 80℃.A BP model was also developed and it showed better predictive performance and adaptability than classical mathematical models.展开更多
The rate of corn kernel breakage in the grain combine harvesters is a crucial factor affecting the quality of the grain shelled in the field. The objective of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of c...The rate of corn kernel breakage in the grain combine harvesters is a crucial factor affecting the quality of the grain shelled in the field. The objective of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of corn kernels to breakage based on the kernel moisture content in order to determine the moisture content that corresponds to the lowest rate of breakage.In addition, we evaluated the resistance to breakage of various corn cultivars. A total of 17 different corn cultivars were planted at two different sowing dates at the Beibuchang Experiment Station, Beijing and the Xinxiang Experiment Station(Henan Province) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The corn kernel moisture content was systematically monitored and recorded over time, and the breakage rate was measured by using the grinding method. The results for all grain samples from the two experimental stations revealed that the breakage rate y is quadratic in moisture content x,y=0.0796 x^(2)-3.3929 x+78.779;R^(2)0=0.2646, n=512. By fitting to the regression equation, a minimum corn kernel breakage rate of 42.62% was obtained, corresponding to a corn kernel moisture content of 21.31%. Furthermore, in the 90% confidence interval, the corn kernel moisture ranging from 19.7 to 22.3% led to the lowest kernel breakage rate, which was consistent with the corn kernel moisture content allowing the lowest breakage rate of corn kernels shelled in the field with combine grain harvesters. Using the lowest breakage rate as the critical point, the correlation between breakage rate and moisture content was significantly negative for low moisture content but positive for high moisture content. The slope and correlation coefficient of the linear regression equation indicated that high moisture content led to greater sensitivity and correlation between grain breakage and moisture content. At the Beibuchang Experiment Station, the corn cultivars resistant to breakage were Zhengdan 958(ZD958) and Fengken 139(FK139), and the corn cultivars non-resistant to breakage were Lianchuang 825(LC825), Jidan 66(JD66), Lidan 295(LD295), and Jingnongke 728(JNK728). At the Xinxiang Experiment Station, the corn cultivars resistant to breakage were HT1, ZD958 and FK139, and the corn cultivars non-resistant to breakage were ZY8911, DK653 and JNK728. Thus, the breakage classifications of the six corn cultivars were consistent between the two experimental stations. In conclusion, the results suggested that the high stability of the grinding method allowed it to be used to determine the corn kernel breakage rates of different corn cultivars as a function of moisture content, thus facilitating the breeding and screening of breakage-resistant corn.展开更多
The present study was conducted to determine the change of digestive physiology in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus(Selenka) induced by corn kernels meal and soybean meal in diets. Four experimental diets were test...The present study was conducted to determine the change of digestive physiology in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus(Selenka) induced by corn kernels meal and soybean meal in diets. Four experimental diets were tested, in which Sargassum thunbergii was proportionally replaced by the mixture of corn kernels meal and soybean meal. The growth performance, body composition and intestinal digestive enzyme activities in A. japonicus fed these 4 diets were examined. Results showed that the sea cucumber exhibited the maximum growth rate when 20% of S. thunbergii in the diet was replaced by corn kernels meal and soybean meal, while 40% of S. thunbergii in the diet can be replaced by the mixture of corn kernels meal and soybean meal without adversely affecting growth performance of A. japonicus. The activities of intestinal trypsin and amylase in A. japonicus can be significantly altered by corn kernels meal and soybean meal in diets. Trypsin activity in the intestine of A. japonicus significantly increased in the treatment groups compared to the control, suggesting that the supplement of corn kernels meal and soybean meal in the diets might increase the intestinal trypsin activity of A. japonicus. However, amylase activity in the intestine of A. japonicus remarkably decreased with the increasing replacement level of S. thunbergii by the mixture of corn kernels meal and soybean meal, suggesting that supplement of corn kernels meal and soybean meal in the diets might decrease the intestinal amylase activity of A. japonicus.展开更多
Nitrogen fertilization is one of the greatest challenges associated with the production of biofuel from corn grain. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of N fertilization on the content and yiel...Nitrogen fertilization is one of the greatest challenges associated with the production of biofuel from corn grain. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of N fertilization on the content and yield of oil, protein, and starch in corn grain. The project was done in Southeast Missouri （USA）, from 2007 to 2009 in a silt loam soil. Corn grain contains 3.8-4.2% oil, 6.7%-8.9% protein, 68.0%-70.4% extractable starch, and 76.0%-77.7% total starch. The total starch yield ranged from 2.8 to 7.8 mg.ha1 whereas the extractable starch varied between 2.5 to 7.1 mg-ha1. As the N rate went up, the oil and starch content of the grain decreased, whereas the protein content and the protein, starch, and oil yields increased, reaching their maximum at the N rate corresponding to 179.0 kg N.ha~. The potential ethanol yield varied between 616.2 and 7,035.1 L-ha1 depending on the method of conversion of the starch into ethanol, the year and the N rate （P 〈 0.0001）. The negative correlation between N fertilization rate and starch content suggested that when farmers add too much N to their soil to increase grain yield, they reduce the starch content in those grains, and consequently the conversion into bioethanol. Therefore, for biofuel production to be beneficial for both farmers and the power plant owners, an agreement needs to be made with regard to the use of fertilizers.展开更多
A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant density on tassel and ear differentiation, anthesissilking interval(ASI), and grain yield formation of two types of modern maize hybrids(Zhong...A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant density on tassel and ear differentiation, anthesissilking interval(ASI), and grain yield formation of two types of modern maize hybrids(Zhongdan 909(ZD909) as tolerant hybrid to crowding stress, Jidan 209(JD209) and Neidan 4(ND4) as intolerant hybrids to crowding stress) in Northeast China. Plant densities of 4.50×104(D1), 6.75×104(D2), 9.00×104(D3), 11.25×104(D4), and 13.50×104(D5) plants ha-1had no significant effects on initial time of tassel and ear differentiation of maize. Instead, higher plant density delayed the tassel and ear development during floret differentiation and sexual organ formation stage, subsequently resulting in ASI increments at the rate of 1.2–2.9 days on average for ZD909 in 2013–2014, 0.7–4.2 days for JD209 in 2013, and 0.5–3.7 days for ND4 in 2014, respectively, under the treatments of D2, D3, D4, and D5 compared to that under the D1 treatment. Total florets, silking florets, and silking rates of ear showed slightly decrease trends with the plant density increasing, whereas the normal kernels seriously decreased at the rate of 11.0–44.9% on average for ZD909 in 2013–2014, 2.0–32.6% for JD209 in 2013, and 9.7–28.3% for ND4 in 2014 with the plant density increased compared to that under the D1 treatment due to increased florets abortive rates. It was also observed that 100-kernel weight of ZD909 showed less decrease trend compared that of JD209 and ND4 along with the plant densities increase. As a consequence, ZD909 gained its highest grain yield by 13.7 t ha-1on average at the plant density of 9.00×104 plants ha-1, whereas JD209 and ND4 reached their highest grain yields by 11.7 and 10.2 t ha-1at the plant density of 6.75×104 plants ha-1, respectively. Our experiment demonstrated that hybrids with lower ASI, higher kernel number potential per ear, and relative constant 100-kernel weight(e.g., ZD909) could achieve higher yield under dense planting in high latitude area(e.g., Northeast China).展开更多
Since the fracture property of corn stalk determines the difficulty for corn to fall off,it is of great significance to study the fracture law of the corn stalk with high water content and explore the corn threshing m...Since the fracture property of corn stalk determines the difficulty for corn to fall off,it is of great significance to study the fracture law of the corn stalk with high water content and explore the corn threshing method without causing great damage.Taking two varieties of corn as the research object,this study carried out single and multi-angle corn stalk fracture tests to explore the changes in the linkage between stalk and corn kernel at different positions as well as under different application modes and angles.The results showed that the force required for radial stretching was the greatest.Moreover,the fracture mechanics model of corn stalk was established to measure the fracture toughness of corn stalk.The peak value of critical load P_(Q) load displacement curve(F_(MAX))was indicated.Based on the fractal theory,the fractal characteristics of the fracture surface of the stalk at different positions of the ear were analyzed,and the fractal dimension was calculated using the islet method.The findings indicated that the larger the fractal dimension of the fracture surface on the corn stalk,the more energy consumed in the fracture of corn stalk.These findings can be further utilized to explore the performance of corn kernel and reveal the fracture rule of corn kernel and stalk to identify the optimal form of force to make corn kernels fall off the corn cob and provide the theoretical basis for reducing the loss caused in the falling process of corn kernel.展开更多
基金financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(project No.2024JJ8037:https://kjt.hunan.gov.cn/kjt/xxgk/tzgg/tzgg_1/202403/t20240311_33144606.html,accessed on 27 October 2025)。
文摘This study evaluated corn kernel drying performance and quality changes using hot air drying(HAD)and infrared drying(ID)across temperatures ranging from 55℃ to 80℃.Optimal drying parameters were determined by using the entropy weight method,with drying time,specific energy consumption,damage rate,fatty acids,starch,polyphenols,and flavonoids as indicators.Results demonstrated that ID significantly outperformed HAD,achieving drying times up to 20%shorter and reducing specific energy consumption and kernel damage by up to 79.3%and 66.7%,respectively,while also better preserving quality attributes.Both methods exhibited drying profiles characterized by acceleration,constant,and falling rate periods,although the constant rate phase was distinctly observable only at lower temperatures.The effective moisture diffusivity under ID was consistently higher than that under HAD,with a maximum increase of 20.4%.The optimal drying conditions were HAD at 65℃ and ID at 80℃.A BP model was also developed and it showed better predictive performance and adaptability than classical mathematical models.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0300110,2016YFD0300101)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31371575)+1 种基金the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-0225)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science。
文摘The rate of corn kernel breakage in the grain combine harvesters is a crucial factor affecting the quality of the grain shelled in the field. The objective of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of corn kernels to breakage based on the kernel moisture content in order to determine the moisture content that corresponds to the lowest rate of breakage.In addition, we evaluated the resistance to breakage of various corn cultivars. A total of 17 different corn cultivars were planted at two different sowing dates at the Beibuchang Experiment Station, Beijing and the Xinxiang Experiment Station(Henan Province) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The corn kernel moisture content was systematically monitored and recorded over time, and the breakage rate was measured by using the grinding method. The results for all grain samples from the two experimental stations revealed that the breakage rate y is quadratic in moisture content x,y=0.0796 x^(2)-3.3929 x+78.779;R^(2)0=0.2646, n=512. By fitting to the regression equation, a minimum corn kernel breakage rate of 42.62% was obtained, corresponding to a corn kernel moisture content of 21.31%. Furthermore, in the 90% confidence interval, the corn kernel moisture ranging from 19.7 to 22.3% led to the lowest kernel breakage rate, which was consistent with the corn kernel moisture content allowing the lowest breakage rate of corn kernels shelled in the field with combine grain harvesters. Using the lowest breakage rate as the critical point, the correlation between breakage rate and moisture content was significantly negative for low moisture content but positive for high moisture content. The slope and correlation coefficient of the linear regression equation indicated that high moisture content led to greater sensitivity and correlation between grain breakage and moisture content. At the Beibuchang Experiment Station, the corn cultivars resistant to breakage were Zhengdan 958(ZD958) and Fengken 139(FK139), and the corn cultivars non-resistant to breakage were Lianchuang 825(LC825), Jidan 66(JD66), Lidan 295(LD295), and Jingnongke 728(JNK728). At the Xinxiang Experiment Station, the corn cultivars resistant to breakage were HT1, ZD958 and FK139, and the corn cultivars non-resistant to breakage were ZY8911, DK653 and JNK728. Thus, the breakage classifications of the six corn cultivars were consistent between the two experimental stations. In conclusion, the results suggested that the high stability of the grinding method allowed it to be used to determine the corn kernel breakage rates of different corn cultivars as a function of moisture content, thus facilitating the breeding and screening of breakage-resistant corn.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.31172426 and 31372549)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No.2011BAD13B03)
文摘The present study was conducted to determine the change of digestive physiology in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus(Selenka) induced by corn kernels meal and soybean meal in diets. Four experimental diets were tested, in which Sargassum thunbergii was proportionally replaced by the mixture of corn kernels meal and soybean meal. The growth performance, body composition and intestinal digestive enzyme activities in A. japonicus fed these 4 diets were examined. Results showed that the sea cucumber exhibited the maximum growth rate when 20% of S. thunbergii in the diet was replaced by corn kernels meal and soybean meal, while 40% of S. thunbergii in the diet can be replaced by the mixture of corn kernels meal and soybean meal without adversely affecting growth performance of A. japonicus. The activities of intestinal trypsin and amylase in A. japonicus can be significantly altered by corn kernels meal and soybean meal in diets. Trypsin activity in the intestine of A. japonicus significantly increased in the treatment groups compared to the control, suggesting that the supplement of corn kernels meal and soybean meal in the diets might increase the intestinal trypsin activity of A. japonicus. However, amylase activity in the intestine of A. japonicus remarkably decreased with the increasing replacement level of S. thunbergii by the mixture of corn kernels meal and soybean meal, suggesting that supplement of corn kernels meal and soybean meal in the diets might decrease the intestinal amylase activity of A. japonicus.
文摘Nitrogen fertilization is one of the greatest challenges associated with the production of biofuel from corn grain. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of N fertilization on the content and yield of oil, protein, and starch in corn grain. The project was done in Southeast Missouri （USA）, from 2007 to 2009 in a silt loam soil. Corn grain contains 3.8-4.2% oil, 6.7%-8.9% protein, 68.0%-70.4% extractable starch, and 76.0%-77.7% total starch. The total starch yield ranged from 2.8 to 7.8 mg.ha1 whereas the extractable starch varied between 2.5 to 7.1 mg-ha1. As the N rate went up, the oil and starch content of the grain decreased, whereas the protein content and the protein, starch, and oil yields increased, reaching their maximum at the N rate corresponding to 179.0 kg N.ha~. The potential ethanol yield varied between 616.2 and 7,035.1 L-ha1 depending on the method of conversion of the starch into ethanol, the year and the N rate （P 〈 0.0001）. The negative correlation between N fertilization rate and starch content suggested that when farmers add too much N to their soil to increase grain yield, they reduce the starch content in those grains, and consequently the conversion into bioethanol. Therefore, for biofuel production to be beneficial for both farmers and the power plant owners, an agreement needs to be made with regard to the use of fertilizers.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2015CB150404)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31671642)+1 种基金the Key Program of Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province, China (LFGC14205)the Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-XTCX2016008)
文摘A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant density on tassel and ear differentiation, anthesissilking interval(ASI), and grain yield formation of two types of modern maize hybrids(Zhongdan 909(ZD909) as tolerant hybrid to crowding stress, Jidan 209(JD209) and Neidan 4(ND4) as intolerant hybrids to crowding stress) in Northeast China. Plant densities of 4.50×104(D1), 6.75×104(D2), 9.00×104(D3), 11.25×104(D4), and 13.50×104(D5) plants ha-1had no significant effects on initial time of tassel and ear differentiation of maize. Instead, higher plant density delayed the tassel and ear development during floret differentiation and sexual organ formation stage, subsequently resulting in ASI increments at the rate of 1.2–2.9 days on average for ZD909 in 2013–2014, 0.7–4.2 days for JD209 in 2013, and 0.5–3.7 days for ND4 in 2014, respectively, under the treatments of D2, D3, D4, and D5 compared to that under the D1 treatment. Total florets, silking florets, and silking rates of ear showed slightly decrease trends with the plant density increasing, whereas the normal kernels seriously decreased at the rate of 11.0–44.9% on average for ZD909 in 2013–2014, 2.0–32.6% for JD209 in 2013, and 9.7–28.3% for ND4 in 2014 with the plant density increased compared to that under the D1 treatment due to increased florets abortive rates. It was also observed that 100-kernel weight of ZD909 showed less decrease trend compared that of JD209 and ND4 along with the plant densities increase. As a consequence, ZD909 gained its highest grain yield by 13.7 t ha-1on average at the plant density of 9.00×104 plants ha-1, whereas JD209 and ND4 reached their highest grain yields by 11.7 and 10.2 t ha-1at the plant density of 6.75×104 plants ha-1, respectively. Our experiment demonstrated that hybrids with lower ASI, higher kernel number potential per ear, and relative constant 100-kernel weight(e.g., ZD909) could achieve higher yield under dense planting in high latitude area(e.g., Northeast China).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52275245)Henan Science and Technology Research Program(Grant No.222103810041).
文摘Since the fracture property of corn stalk determines the difficulty for corn to fall off,it is of great significance to study the fracture law of the corn stalk with high water content and explore the corn threshing method without causing great damage.Taking two varieties of corn as the research object,this study carried out single and multi-angle corn stalk fracture tests to explore the changes in the linkage between stalk and corn kernel at different positions as well as under different application modes and angles.The results showed that the force required for radial stretching was the greatest.Moreover,the fracture mechanics model of corn stalk was established to measure the fracture toughness of corn stalk.The peak value of critical load P_(Q) load displacement curve(F_(MAX))was indicated.Based on the fractal theory,the fractal characteristics of the fracture surface of the stalk at different positions of the ear were analyzed,and the fractal dimension was calculated using the islet method.The findings indicated that the larger the fractal dimension of the fracture surface on the corn stalk,the more energy consumed in the fracture of corn stalk.These findings can be further utilized to explore the performance of corn kernel and reveal the fracture rule of corn kernel and stalk to identify the optimal form of force to make corn kernels fall off the corn cob and provide the theoretical basis for reducing the loss caused in the falling process of corn kernel.
