A method to evaluate lodging potential in rice cultivars based on elastic stability theory

Abstract

Physical characteristics of rice which may be used to evaluate lodging resistance have been measured or calculated. The main characteristics considered were plant height, plant cross-section properties measured by the second moment of area, and the elastic behavior of the culm measured by the bending modulus of elasticity. A method for determining the modulus of elasticity is described. Plant height, modulus of elasticity, and relative straw strength scores were compared. The concept and application of natural stability was discussed in the context of Euler column theory. Euler column theory was applied to near-harvest rice. Predicted critical loads and the difference between predicted loads and average panicle weight were compared with relative straw strength scores.