title: Determining Canopy Vigour in G3 Kiwifruit using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

authors: Hull, Graham George

subjects: GIS

abstract: Consumers are increasingly demanding that food producers justify their use of water, fertiliser and agrichemicals. Placing the right inputs, in the right place, at the right time, is sometimes called “Precision Agriculture”. However, the adoption of Precision Agriculture by New Zealand kiwifruit growers, has been constrained in part, by the cost and complexity of monitoring seasonal growth. Therefore, any new technology, that can simply and cost effectively measure canopy vigour in a timely way and relate that to fruit quality and production inputs, will ultimately help improve orchard gate returns and keep consumers happy. Using a multispectral camera and UAV (drone), this study monitored two, G3 kiwifruit orchards over three months. Canopy Chlorophyll Content, was found to be the best proxy for canopy vigour. The vegetation index, EVI2 on its own, explained 67% of the variability in canopy vigour. Adding orchard topography measures, extracted from LIDAR data using GIS software, increased the explanatory power of the best model to 85%. In many respects, remote sensing was found to be superior to historical measurement methods. However, uptake by the kiwifruit industry is likely to be conditional on a better understanding of the relationship between canopy vigour, fruit quality and orchard gate returns. The significant correlations observed between orchard topography and canopy vigour, signal a need for closer integration of Geography and Agricultural Science disciplines, in future kiwifruit research.

text: Determining Canopy Vigour in G3 Kiwifruit using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems Consumers are increasingly demanding that food producers justify their use of water, fertiliser and agrichemicals. Placing the right inputs, in the right place, at the right time, is sometimes called “Precision Agriculture”. However, the adoption of Precision Agriculture by New Zealand kiwifruit growers, has been constrained in part, by the cost and complexity of monitoring seasonal growth. Therefore, any new technology, that can simply and cost effectively measure canopy vigour in a timely way and relate that to fruit quality and production inputs, will ultimately help improve orchard gate returns and keep consumers happy. Using a multispectral camera and UAV (drone), this study monitored two, G3 kiwifruit orchards over three months. Canopy Chlorophyll Content, was found to be the best proxy for canopy vigour. The vegetation index, EVI2 on its own, explained 67% of the variability in canopy vigour. Adding orchard topography measures, extracted from LIDAR data using GIS software, increased the explanatory power of the best model to 85%. In many respects, remote sensing was found to be superior to historical measurement methods. However, uptake by the kiwifruit industry is likely to be conditional on a better understanding of the relationship between canopy vigour, fruit quality and orchard gate returns. The significant correlations observed between orchard topography and canopy vigour, signal a need for closer integration of Geography and Agricultural Science disciplines, in future kiwifruit research.

year: 2017

title: Food choice in the e-commerce era: A comparison between business-to-consumer (B2C), online-to-offline (O2O) and new retail

authors: Wang, Ou

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Purpose
This study associated consumers' food choice motives and socio-demographic characteristics with their attitudes and consumptions towards food shopping with four e-commerce modes: business-to-consumer (B2C), online-to-offline delivery (O2O Delivery), online-to-offline in-store (O2O In-store) and New Retail. It also explored consumer preferences for specific food categories within the four e-commerce modes.

Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was administered to 954 participants from three Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Descriptive analysis and linear regression were used in the data analysis.

Findings
The following food choice motives (FCMs) and socio-demographic characteristics had a significant effect on food e-commerce attitudes and/or consumption, with some or all of the four e-commerce modes: Taste Appeal, Value for Money, Safety Concerns, Quality Concerns, Processed Convenience, Purchase Convenience, Others' Reviews, City, Gender, Household Size, Age, Income, Occupation and Marital Status. Consumers also have different consumption preferences for food categories in the four e-commerce modes.

Originality/value
This is the first study to associate consumer FCMs and socio-demographics with their e-commerce attitudes and consumption regarding food in four e-commerce modes: B2C, O2O Delivery, O2O In-store and New Retail.

text: Food choice in the e-commerce era: A comparison between business-to-consumer (B2C), online-to-offline (O2O) and new retail Purpose
This study associated consumers' food choice motives and socio-demographic characteristics with their attitudes and consumptions towards food shopping with four e-commerce modes: business-to-consumer (B2C), online-to-offline delivery (O2O Delivery), online-to-offline in-store (O2O In-store) and New Retail. It also explored consumer preferences for specific food categories within the four e-commerce modes.

Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was administered to 954 participants from three Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Descriptive analysis and linear regression were used in the data analysis.

Findings
The following food choice motives (FCMs) and socio-demographic characteristics had a significant effect on food e-commerce attitudes and/or consumption, with some or all of the four e-commerce modes: Taste Appeal, Value for Money, Safety Concerns, Quality Concerns, Processed Convenience, Purchase Convenience, Others' Reviews, City, Gender, Household Size, Age, Income, Occupation and Marital Status. Consumers also have different consumption preferences for food categories in the four e-commerce modes.

Originality/value
This is the first study to associate consumer FCMs and socio-demographics with their e-commerce attitudes and consumption regarding food in four e-commerce modes: B2C, O2O Delivery, O2O In-store and New Retail.

year: 2020

title: Ethnobotany, germination and growth of eleocharis sphacelata

authors: Kapa, Mieke M

subjects: Eleocharis

abstract: Eleocharis sphacelata, distributed over Australia, Papa New Guinea and predominantly in the north of the North Island New Zealand, occupies the littoral margins of fresh water wetlands and lakes. To assist Eleocharis sphacelata revegetation efforts, research recorded traditional ecological knowledge held by users, determined best methodologies for germination of seed, and established techniques for improved transfer of juvenile plantlets. 
Interviews with cultural knowledge holders revealed a declining but persistent oral repository in tikanga (customs) and practices despite diminishing plant availability. Eleocharis sphacelata has traditionally and contemporarily been used as a fibre for weaving into mats, with its spongy pith providing increased warmth and comfort. Group harvesting, with some cutting and others sorting and binding is the first step in a short preparation sequence, with the drying of the stems (for most this is in the shade) the only other preparation needed before weaving commences. Cultural genealogical descriptions provide a clear portrait of the ecological position Eleocharis sphacelata sits within its natural habitat and presents a phylogeny or schemata comparable to biological science. Published information identifies cultural uses and practices for the fibre of this wetland sedge. 
Fresh and stored seeds were subjected to five treatments at three water levels to determine the best methodology for increased germination rates. Findings illustrate how a scarification pre-treatment and water depth increases up to 15 cm enhances germination rates of Eleocharis sphacelata. Overnight bleaching of seed harvested one month earlier (January 2008) then sown under damp conditions provided increased germination until April. Fresh bleached seed sown under 5 cm and 15 cm of water produced significant increases in germination from September. Seasonal timing and variation in water depth as germination triggers indicate dual germination strategies employed by Eleocharis sphacelata.
In November 2007 seed grown seedlings and vegetative propagules were planted in situ under three water depths to establish which plantlet type would provide increased juvenile survival when used in revegetation projects. Findings determined that seed grown seedlings planted under 15 cm of water had the highest survival and produced a greater number of culms per plantlet, however vegetative propagules were better able to survive in damp conditions. Flowering occurred in over 25% of remaining vegetative and seed grown seedlings by the following October indicating the potential for new transfers to be reproducing within one season. 
Further collaborating between Māori and western science would augment and enhance understanding of transferable environmental methodologies. Possible dual germination strategies by the seed were revealed and further research would determine if this replicates the reproductive and growth capabilities of Eleocharis sphacelata and other wetland sedges in their natural environment. Additional seed quality and technological research would increase potential for seed performance. Determining genetic variety within local, regional and national Eleocharis sphacelata swards would establish bounds of local provenance.

text: Ethnobotany, germination and growth of eleocharis sphacelata Eleocharis sphacelata, distributed over Australia, Papa New Guinea and predominantly in the north of the North Island New Zealand, occupies the littoral margins of fresh water wetlands and lakes. To assist Eleocharis sphacelata revegetation efforts, research recorded traditional ecological knowledge held by users, determined best methodologies for germination of seed, and established techniques for improved transfer of juvenile plantlets. 
Interviews with cultural knowledge holders revealed a declining but persistent oral repository in tikanga (customs) and practices despite diminishing plant availability. Eleocharis sphacelata has traditionally and contemporarily been used as a fibre for weaving into mats, with its spongy pith providing increased warmth and comfort. Group harvesting, with some cutting and others sorting and binding is the first step in a short preparation sequence, with the drying of the stems (for most this is in the shade) the only other preparation needed before weaving commences. Cultural genealogical descriptions provide a clear portrait of the ecological position Eleocharis sphacelata sits within its natural habitat and presents a phylogeny or schemata comparable to biological science. Published information identifies cultural uses and practices for the fibre of this wetland sedge. 
Fresh and stored seeds were subjected to five treatments at three water levels to determine the best methodology for increased germination rates. Findings illustrate how a scarification pre-treatment and water depth increases up to 15 cm enhances germination rates of Eleocharis sphacelata. Overnight bleaching of seed harvested one month earlier (January 2008) then sown under damp conditions provided increased germination until April. Fresh bleached seed sown under 5 cm and 15 cm of water produced significant increases in germination from September. Seasonal timing and variation in water depth as germination triggers indicate dual germination strategies employed by Eleocharis sphacelata.
In November 2007 seed grown seedlings and vegetative propagules were planted in situ under three water depths to establish which plantlet type would provide increased juvenile survival when used in revegetation projects. Findings determined that seed grown seedlings planted under 15 cm of water had the highest survival and produced a greater number of culms per plantlet, however vegetative propagules were better able to survive in damp conditions. Flowering occurred in over 25% of remaining vegetative and seed grown seedlings by the following October indicating the potential for new transfers to be reproducing within one season. 
Further collaborating between Māori and western science would augment and enhance understanding of transferable environmental methodologies. Possible dual germination strategies by the seed were revealed and further research would determine if this replicates the reproductive and growth capabilities of Eleocharis sphacelata and other wetland sedges in their natural environment. Additional seed quality and technological research would increase potential for seed performance. Determining genetic variety within local, regional and national Eleocharis sphacelata swards would establish bounds of local provenance.

year: 2009