Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Winter Cereal Cover Crops Across Nitrogen Management Strategies In No-Till Corn Production, Robert Nalley

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is the most popular winter cereal cover crop utilized before corn, but wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) may provide a comparable value due to their similar fibrous root systems. Despite the benefits associated with winter cereal cover crops, drawbacks are possible for the subsequent corn crop. A field study was conducted with three site-years in Kentucky to measure the impact of the three winter cereals across nitrogen (N) management strategies. Wheat produced the most biomass compared with barley or rye cover crops. Wheat and rye needed approximately 100 more …

A Tale Of Two Working Landscapes, Sage C. Sutcliffe

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Indoor Pests And Human Health: Characterizing Contaminants And Improving Mitigation, Johnalyn Gordon

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Much of the United States population spends the majority of their time indoors and within the home. Not only are indoor arthropod pests an unsightly nuisance in our homes, but they can have serious impacts on human health, especially with chronic exposure. In addition to negative health impacts, costs associated with these medical impacts can be tremendous. For these reasons, it is critical to develop comprehensive strategies for pest reduction and mitigation of associated health impacts. The work outlined in this dissertation represent examination of the distribution of a hypothesized bed bug allergen within the indoor environment, identification of a …

Practical Challenges In Delivering Dsrna For Woody Plant Protection, Zachary Bragg

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Unprecedented weather events associated with climate change, coupled with extensive anthropogenic stresses, have reduced the effectiveness of traditional forest pest management approaches, which can no longer keep pace with invasive species overwhelming naïve landscapes and native pests experiencing eruptive and expansive outbreaks. Double-stranded RNA-(dsRNA) mediated gene silencing, a type of RNA interference (RNAi), has been coopted for use as a biopesticide against a multitude of agricultural and horticultural pests and could serve as a powerful tool for woody plant protection. While effective initiation of gene silencing and subsequent mortality have been demonstrated in multiple tree pests, effective and efficient methods …

Polymorphism And Plasticity In The Termite Caste System, Austin Merchant

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Developmental plasticity, manifested as a caste system, is integral to the success of eusocial insects because of the way in which it decouples the various tasks that a single, solitary organism would normally be responsible for, allowing individuals to specialize towards their given roles while keeping vulnerable members of the colony, such as those responsible for reproduction, safe from harm. Termites exhibit particularly complex caste systems that can be divided into three types of castes: workers perform manual labor, such as foraging and brood care; soldiers defend the nest; and reproductives lay eggs. Each of these castes, as well as …

Addressing The Trade-Offs Of Pest Protective Row Covers For Integrated Pest Management In Vegetable Production, Kathleen Fiske

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

The success of many integrated pest management (IPM) strategies is limited by trade-offs with economic, cultural, and environmental factors. While some IPM strategies reduce pests, they may harm pollinators, reduce the efficiency of weed or disease management, or may increase costs relative to revenue. Pest protective row covers, in the form of fine-mesh netting (referred to as mesotunnels), are an effective alternative to pesticide use, but they are not without their challenges. While row covers exclude insect pests and the pathogens they vector, it is unknown how well non-vectored diseases can be managed underneath the row cover. The exclusion of …

Insights Into The Challenges Posed By Climate Change And Land Competition To Brazil’S Midwest Pulpwood Market, Roberto Hajime Sant Anna Kimura

Theses and Dissertations

I investigated the effect of climate change in one of the few expanding markets in the world in Brazil. In the last decades the demand for pulpwood increased from zero to 11 million tons, leading to an expansion of 700 thousand hectares of Eucalyptus plantation. In 2024, a new mill will start operating increasing the consumption of wood fiber by 8.2 million tons (+49%). I used mathematical programming to investigate how different scenarios of productivity and land will affect the market. My results showed that around 946,000 hectares (+124%) of additional timberland will be necessary in the upcoming decades. The …

The Influence Of At-Planting Insecticide Treatments On Tobacco Thrips, (Thysanoptera:Thripidae), And Reniform Nematode, (Tylenchida:Hoplolaimidae), In Conventional And Thryvon Cotton Systems, Walker Brett Farmer

Theses and Dissertations

One of the objectives of this research was to evaluate the need for an additional imidacloprid seed treatment on ThryvOn^® (Bayer Crop Science^®, St. Louis, MO) cotton to effectively manage tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds). While evaluating thrips densities and damage ratings, ThryvOn cotton continued to display reduced damage and thrips populations than non-ThryvOn. Thrips populations and damage ratings were consistently reduced when incorporating a higher rate of imidacloprid, but they were not reduced enough to justify the higher rates of imidacloprid. Another objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of aldicarb (AgLogic Chemical^{® …}

Characteristics Of Award-Winning Children’S Books About Agriculture: An Analysis Of Content, And The Perspectives Of Authors, Illustrators, And Publishers, Addison L. Beckham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this two-article qualitative study was to characterize children's literature about agriculture and to describe the perceptions of authors and illustrators who are responsible for writing and designing these successful publications. This will result in the ability of organizations like Feeding Minds Press to provide writers, illustrators, and publishers with effective strategies and techniques to improve the accuracy and overall quality of children’s literature about agriculture. Few parameters exist for authors of children’s books about agriculture (Biser, 2007). These parameters are necessary to ensure the quality and accuracy of these educational efforts (Serafini, 2012). Though Feeding Minds Press …

Social Media Impacts On Arkansas Consumer Perceptions Of Gmos, Elizabeth R. Berner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study builds upon previous consumer perceptions of GMOs studies. A need existed to determine what, if any, effects social media messages about GMOs had on consumer perceptions in Arkansas. The study utilized a qualitative approach with three focus groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive code. Participants were found to have a general understanding of GMOs, though discussion about what a GMO product was took an uncertain tone. Most participants did not consider GMOs as a factor when purchasing products. Rather participants considered characteristics such as price, quality, and convenience. Participants did not believe the infographics had changed their opinions …

Solar Cooking Solutions For Haiti, Isaac Mergner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on enhancing the efficiency of solar cooking through the use of solar cookers and heat retention boxes. The research involved testing various cooking vessels and lids in a solar cooking experiment, with a specific focus on the performance of different materials and their heat retention capabilities. The experiment aimed to increase the efficiency of solar cookers, which are popular in developing nations due to their relatively low cost. The findings indicate that the combination of a solar cooker and a heat retention box can significantly improve the cooking process, particularly in areas with limited access to cooking …

Navigating Leadership Pathways: Learning Module Development, Alana Skogen

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Navigating Leadership Pathways is an innovative learning initiative designed to address the challenges and barriers faced by women in their pursuit of mid to high-level leadership positions. Comprising three self-paced modules, this project delves into the intricate landscape of gender bias, second-generation biases, and cultural norms that hinder women's progression in the workplace. Drawing on extensive research and real-world insights, each module provides a dynamic and interactive learning experience.

Module 1: Introduction to Gender Bias in Leadership

This module lays the foundation by exploring second-generation biases, leadership style differences between men and women, the glass ceiling, diversity, and inclusion. Participants …

Evaluation Of Forage Nutritive Value And Dry Matter Yield Of Stockpiled Tall Fescue Across Plant Hardiness Zones 7 And 8, Malerie Elizabeth Fancher

Masters Theses

Pastures in Tennessee comprise mainly tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], a cool-season perennial grass. Tennessee producers feed hay for an average of 143 days per year, there is interest in utilizing stockpiling to extend the grazing season. Although this practice has been proven to reduce hay needs (Freeman et al., 2019), it is vital to maintain up-to-date recommendations using data from across the southeastern US to inform nutritional management decisions. The objective of this study is to determine the nutritive value and dry matter yield of stockpiled tall fescue across plant hardiness zones 7 and 8. Fourteen farms …

Assessment Of Needs And Priorities For Precision Agriculture And Soil Testing In Arkansas, Solomon Frimpong

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Optimum crop production is needed to meet the growing population's food, water, fiber, and energy needs. However, agricultural productivity is hampered by many destabilizing factors such as pest management challenges, declining water quantity, and climate change which threaten long-term food security. Maximizing productivity will require optimizing resources through Precision Agriculture (PA) by supplying inputs based on crop needs. Precision Agriculture offers tools that can be used to optimize crop management practices globally. However, stakeholders’ perceptions and the lack of data-driven site-specific recommendations limit stakeholders’ ability to fully harness the potential benefits of PA. Identification of stakeholder needs and approaches to …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Implementing A Dairy Industry In Mauritius, Sophia Ultes

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mauritius faces food security and economic challenges due to its lack of a domestic dairy industry. To address this, the University of Arkansas partnered with the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security to explore the possibility of establishing a dairy sector on the island.

Through surveys and interviews with locals, including restaurant owners and grocery store customers, we investigated the demand for fresh milk. We also studied factors like consumer preferences and production costs. Our research, conducted with IRB approval, aimed to understand if people are willing to buy locally produced milk.

During the summer, our team visited Mauritius …

Growth Rates, Morphology, And Potential For Mariculture Of The Southern Population Of Crassostrea Virginica In The Lower Laguna Madre, Texas, Jerad Lee Fuelling

Theses and Dissertations

The Eastern Oyster also known as Crassostrea virginica, is an important resource here in the United States. Historically, this species has been overfished, poorly managed, and plagued by disease. Oyster mariculture is a growing industry here in the United States and is a sustainable solution to producing oysters. Texas has become the last coastal state to legalize oyster mariculture which means there is now a vast coastline with many unique bay systems that are open to this industry. One bay system that is particularly unique is the Lower Laguna Madre which is a hypersaline lagoon. Little is known about …

Understanding And Developing Safer Sanitation Agents And Strategies In Food Production Environments, Pragathi Kamarasu

Doctoral Dissertations

Food is a primary resource for survival of human beings, and it is also one of the primary resources for spread of infectious diseases. When both these factors come together it does not only cause ill effects on our health but also causes a burden on the food and agricultural industry. Through the help of science, us researchers and scientists have always tried to reduce this burden. And I hope like a drop of water in the ocean in some way my research contributes towards this. According to WHO currently in 2023 there are about 1 in 10 people falling …

The Impact Of Participation In 4-H Camp On The Connectedness To Nature Of Urban 4-H Members, Derek S. Landrum

LSU Master's Theses

Overnight summer camps are beneficial experiences that provide 4-H members from urbanized areas the chance to experience the outdoors and appreciate nature. Previous research shows that time in the outdoors can increase connection to nature. Furthermore, connection to nature is associated with adoption of pro‑environmental behavior, lowering of negative emotions, and positive general well-being. For this thesis, the researcher is interested in finding out if participation in 4-H summer camp has a significant effect on participant’s connection to nature as measured by the Children’s Environmental Perceptions Scale (CEPS) and the Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale (INS). Previous work has …

Determinants Of Market Participation Among Milk Producers In Kyrgyzstan, Akhmadjon Nurullaev

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the key factors that drive milk producers to enter the milk market as sellers in Kyrgyzstan. The study utilizes the Life in Kyrgyzstan dataset, a nationally representative survey that tracks 3,000 households and 8,000 individuals throughout Kyrgyzstan. The results were analyzed with two different models: Heckman’s two-stage and the double hurdle models. The results show that regional location, ethnic group origin, risk awareness, dependency ratio, vehicle ownership, total value of assets, distance to agro market, and family shock occurrence significantly impact both market participation and the volume of milk sales. The findings hold great significance in establishing …

Do Fas Large Export Sales Reports Move Commodity Futures Markets?, William Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to determine if the Large Export Reports from the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service have any discernible market-moving impact on particular commodity futures markets. The effect of the reports on futures markets is investigated using four different methods: the average return event study approach, the multiple regression with binary variables model, the autoregressive time series model, and the event spline model. The average returns showed that the FAS's Large Export Sales Reports had no influence on the pricing of wheat futures, but did have a considerable impact on the returns from days before and after the release of …

Density And Occupancy Of Mammals Along An Urban To Rural Gradient In Northwest Arkansas, Leah E. Mctigue

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human development is a rapidly expanding phenomenon impacting wildlife communities globally. As the human footprint expands, natural greenspace and nature reserves become fragmented and isolated. Wildlife species and communities respond to these changes in different ways. Urban exploiters persist in more urban areas and are able to take advantage of anthropogenic subsidies (food, shelter, etc). Urban avoiders, however, are species that may be pushed out of developed areas or occur in lower densities relative to undisturbed areas. Northwest Arkansas is an optimal location to study the impacts of urbanization on wildlife communities, as the current human population is expected to …

Decrypting The Processes Of Policy Evolution: Comparing Québec And Ontario’S Evolution Of Risk Management Policies, Frederick Clerson Guicherd

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Through policies or programs, states can influence industries to align with their vision of what a sector should become. However, this vision is subject to influence from actors of the industries which emphasize the importance of the relationship between the state and interest groups. In this dissertation, we observe the evolution of 9 Canadian agriculture risk management programs implemented by two provincial governments between 1990 and 2020 to understand how such programs coped with the new trends in agriculture. Through a review of parliamentary discussions and official documents, we evaluate the factors that justified program evolution based on the combination …

The Future Of Public And Private Plant Breeding According To Plant Scientists, Lexie Burris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plant breeding has been effective in addressing food insecurity by increasing agricultural yields and productivity. Historically, public plant breeding programs have long-term, integrated approaches to plant breeding research, germplasm enhancement, and variety development, but as funding is reduced the future is less certain as to areas of focus. This survey builds off those before it and asks the next logical question, if a divergence between private and public breeding is taking place, what aspects should each sector focus on? The impetus of this study was to ask opinions of plant breeders globally regarding the direction they believe the public and …

Effects Of Wilting Extent On The Phytoestrogen Levels, Nutritional Value, Microbial Populations, And In Vitro Ruminal Methane Emissions Of Red Clover Hay And Silage Across Stages, Diego Zamudio Ayala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this thesis is to improve the understanding and awareness of methodologies to decrease phytoestrogens in conserved legumes without sacrificing forage nutritive value. In chapter 1, we discussed the main factors influencing each stage of hay production and our current understanding of the hay microbiome dynamics. The primary objective of haymaking is to dry forage enough (80-85% DM) to inhibit the growth of undesirable microbes and halt residual plant enzymatic activity that causes nutrient losses. During the field and storage phases of haymaking, the environment, management practices, and other factors influence the extent of DM losses. This …

The Influence Of Framing And Recent Experience On Farmer Choices In Experimental Games Depicting Risk-Reducing Agricultural Technologies, Ana Maria Ospina Tobar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is a major threat to food security, particularly in low and middle-income countries that are highly dependent on staple crops for subsistence. The vulnerability of staple crops, like maize, in the face of climate change, is increasing due to the increasing frequency of droughts. This thesis aims to evaluate two mechanisms through which farmers may be more willing to adopt new technologies that increase their resilience to climate change: First, I evaluate the effectiveness of a new virtual maize farming game as a learning tool to teach farmers about the outcomes they could obtain under different weather events …

Black Experiences With Community Gardening In Southeast Louisiana, Kiarah Craft

LSU Master's Theses

Community gardens have been rising in popularity over the past few years (Mayers, 2023). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people across the United States have decided that it is crucial to grow their own food and develop sustainability within their community. Historically, Black communities have been underserved and ignored, especially in relation to food security and community safety (White, 2019, Penniman, 2018). The purpose of this study was to collect information about the effects of community-based gardening programs on Black people in Southeast Louisiana. Additionally, the researcher would like to gain knowledge regarding the reasons that Black people …

Upland Cotton And Nematodes: An Analysis Of Historical Resistance, Upcoming Threats, And Co-Inoculation Effects, Amanda Gaudin

Theses and Dissertations

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum ) is an important fiber crop grown throughout the southern United States. Plant-pathogenic nematodes are worm-like animals that feed on the roots of most agronomic crops, including cotton. The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita, RKN) and the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis, RN) cause significant yield losses in cotton every year. Current sources of resistance are effective but limited, therefore historical screenings of cotton accessions were revisited in search for novel resistance sources. None were identified but many of the screened accessions possessed markers of known root-knot nematode and reniform nematode resistance. …

Investigating Specialty Crop Farmers’ Preferences For Contract Design And Attitudes Towards Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts, Esther Mmenaa Agyemang-Duah

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines small and medium scale specialty crop growers’ preferences for marketing contract attributes and willingness to adopt blockchain-based smart contracts. The data used were collected using an online survey and discrete choice experiment. Findings indicate that farmers prefer higher average prices, cash, check or electronic bank payment over cryptocurrency, and immediate payment upon product delivery over delayed payment. When choosing a contract, farmers viewed traditional text-based contracts and digital platforms with automated smart contracts equivalently, on average. On average, farmers showed no preference for providing and not providing traceability lot codes to buyers, and between choosing a contract …

Integrating Weed-Suppressive Cotton Chromosome Substitution Lines And Cover Crops For Sustainable Weed Management In Cotton Production Systems., Alyssa Lea Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Weeds pose a challenge to cotton production, and herbicides have been the primary means of control. However, there is growing concern over weed resistance to herbicides. To address this issue, we evaluated three cover crop species and six cotton accessions for weed suppression. The study found that hairy vetch, wheat, and B16 cotton CS line effectively suppressed Amaranthus species, while MNTN 4-15, B16, hairy vetch, and wheat were correlated with the highest cotton yield. Cover crops were also analyzed for chlorogenic acid content, with wheat, MNTN 4-15, and hairy vetch producing the highest amounts. The greenhouse tray study showed that …

Pre-Emergence Herbicide Programs For Weed Control In Soybean (Glycine Max) And The Effect Of Rainfall Amount On Herbicide Activity, Caleb Knox Meyer

Theses and Dissertations

Preemergence (PRE) herbicides are used to control weeds and reduce pressure on postemergence (POST) herbicides. However, knowledge of length of control each herbicide provides, as well as the amount of activation rainfall required for adequate weed control, is unknown in Mississippi soybean production. Twenty-one PRE applied soybean herbicides were evaluated for their duration of residual control for five weeks over twelve site years on three weed species from 2021-2022. Some differences in control following herbicide application used on certain weed species were observed at different times. However, most PRE herbicides resulted in adequate (greater than or equal to 90%) control …