This study uses entropy theory to develop a novel application of the apportionment entropy disorder index (AEDI) to capture both spatial and temporal variability in monthly precipitation for various types of hydrologic modeling. In total, 41 Environment Canada stations across Ontario with long term (1955 to 2005) records and a very low percentage of missing data were selected. It was found that the fall and summer seasons are the major contributors to annual precipitation variability. Spatial variability of annual precipitation was observed to be increasing from southern to northern Ontario. The AEDI index map of Ontario, developed in this study, has been successfully integrated into several hydrologic models.
There is a potentially large market for locally produced organic bitter melons (Momordica charantia L.) in Canada, but it is a great challenge to grow this warm-season crop in open fields (OFs) due to the cool and short growing season. To test the feasibility of using high tunnels (HTs) for organic production of bitter melons in southern Ontario, plant growth, fruit yield and quality, and pest and disease incidence were compared among three production systems: OF, HT, and high tunnel with anti-insect netting (HTN) at Guelph in 2015. The highest marketable fruit yield was achieved in HTN (≈36 t·ha−1), followed by HT (≈29 t·ha−1), with the lowest yield obtained in OF (≈3 t·ha−1). Compared with OF, there were several other benefits for bitter melon production in HT and HTN: increased plant growth, advanced harvest timing, reduced pest numbers and disease incidence, and improved fruit quality traits such as increased individual fruit weight and size, and reduced postharvest water loss. In addition to higher yield, HTN had fewer insect pests and disease incidence compared with HT. The results suggest that HTs can be used for organic production of bitter melon in southern Ontario and regions with similar climates. Also, the addition of anti-insect netting to HTs is beneficial to production if combined with an effective pollination strategy.
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