A novel wheat lodging resistance evaluation method and device based on the thrust force of the stalks

Wind speed is the most essential factor causing wheat lodging. Accurate understanding of the wind speed characteristics at near-surface layer of wheat fields and its effect on lodging is the basis of objective evaluation of wheat lodging resistance. In this paper, the characteristics of wind speed at the near-surface layer of wheat fields and their impact on lodging were studied. A new device was proposed for directly measuring the critical thrust force of wheat population lodging resistance in the field based on the black box method. A novel wheat stem lodging resistance evaluation method/model was established based on the critical thrust force of wheat population stem lodging and the wind speed characteristics of field near-surface layer. The method used the lodging critical wind speed as the index of wheat lodging resistance, which was verified by wind tunnel and field experiment. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the critical wind speed of wheat lodging resistance and its critical thrust force. The values of wheat canopy apparent roughness length, wind attack angle, ventilation coefficient and other wind field characteristics had important effects on the calculation of wheat lodging resistance critical wind speed. The method can eliminate bias when calculating wheat lodging resistance by considering only one or a few indicators and the results of field lodging evaluation were consistent with those of field lodging survey. The method is simple and can be used to assess the lodging resistance of wheat, select extension regions for wheat varieties, and evaluate lodging factors in the field.