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Palynostratigraphy And Bayesian Age Stratigraphic Model Of New Ca-Id-Tims Zircon Ages From The Walloon Coal Measures, Surat Basin, Australia, K. Sobczak, J. Cooling, T. Crossingham, H. G. Holl, M. Reilly, J. Esterle, J. L. Crowley, C. Hannaford, M. T. Mohr, Z. Hamerli, S. Hurter

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Surat Basin hosts significant coal and coal seam gas resources. New high-precision CA-TIMS U/Pb zircon ages from tuffs and Bayesian age stratigraphic models are combined with palynology from fine-grained sedimentary rocks and zircon trace elements to provide further chronostratigraphic and biostratigraphic constrains on the Walloon Coal Measures in the eastern margin of the Surat Basin and infer the palaeoenvironment and tectonic setting. The tuff ages range from 165.88 ± 0.11 Ma to 158.84 ± 0.05 Ma, with those from the stratigraphically lower Taroom Coal Measures ranging from 165.88 ± 0.11 to 163.05 ± 0.08 Ma and Juandah Coal Measures …

Mid- To Late-Miocene Hypogene Speleogenesis Tied To The Tectonic History Of The Central Basin And Range Province, Usa, Louise D. Hose, Victor Polyak, Harvey R. Duchene, J. Douglas Powell, Leslie A. Melim, Gretchen M. Baker, Donald G. Davis, Yemane Asmerom

International Journal of Speleology

Twenty-five caves displaying evidence of hypogene speleogenesis in White Pine County, Nevada, were studied between May 2022 and October 2023. Results demonstrate that the central Basin and Range Province is a major hypogenic cave region with speleogenesis dating back to the Middle Miocene. The U-Pb radiometric dates of cave mammillaries obtained so far cover a wide span of time, ranging between 14 Ma to 2 Ma. Tectonic shearing along the Snake Range Décollement up to about 22 Ma probably brackets the maximum age of speleogenesis. Thus, speleogenesis began between 22-14 Ma, which predates most of the Basin and Range extensional …

The Compass - Volume 93 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Fluvial Channel Path Evolution – Documenting Decades Of Change Along The Little Wabash River, East Central Illinois, Usa, Diane M. Burns, David Viertel, Kwang Il Yoo

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

As highly dynamic landforms, rivers etch their channels into the surrounding and underlying strata over time, continuously reshaping the landscapes they traverse. This study examines geomorphological changes of the Little Wabash River in East Central Illinois between 1938 and 2011. The Little Wabash River is a meandering river sourced in southwestern Coles County, Illinois, and flows southward approximately 390 km to its confluence with the Wabash River. The historical location of the Little Wabash River was delineated to establish a baseline survey using archival aerial photography acquired in 1938. To understand how the channel evolved, investigations were conducted in each …

Overview Of The Geology, Paleontology, And Geoscience Education Opportunities Of The University Of Tennessee At Martin Coon Creek Science Center For Visitors, Researchers, And Docents, Michael A. Gibson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Coon Creek Formation is an internationally recognized Upper Cretaceous (Campanian, 76 million-years-old) marine clastic lagerstätten deposit with over 500 identified species of nearly perfectly preserved invertebrates, vertebrates, plants, and trace fossils with original shell geochemistry and paleoecological fidelity preserved. The type-locality and type-section, located in rural McNairy County, Tennessee, was preserved for research and education in 1988 when the Memphis Pink Palace Museum constructed a 232-acre geoscience education facility on the site, now run as the University of Tennessee at Martin Coon Creek Science Center. Visitors to the site participate in a wide variety of geoscience education programming and …

46th Biennial Convention Of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, University Of Tennessee At Martin, September 16-18, 2022, Richard L. Ford, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE), the national honorary society for the Earth sciences, held its 46th biennial convention (September 16-18, 2022) at satellite facilities of University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) located in Selmer, Tennessee. The convention was hosted by SGE’s Eta Alpha Chapter and the Department of Agriculture, Geoscience, and Natural Resources at UT Martin. Ten (10) of SGE’s approximately 60 active chapters sent delegates to the convention. The traditional convention field trip, an outing to UT Martin’s Coon Creek Science Center, focused on collecting and preparing marine fossils from the Upper Cretaceous Coon Creek Formation. …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2022, Denver, Colorado, Usa, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors an annual poster session at every Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 2022 Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2022 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA, on Monday, October 10, 2022. Ten (10) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall F at the Colorado Convention Center between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report.

Letter To The Members Of Sge From Your New Editor, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Chapter And Student Awards For Academic Year 2022-2023, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) encourages efforts to broaden the education and impact of its members through community outreach. In academic year 2022-2023, four awards were given at the chapter level: The Chapter Service Award to the Gamma Chi Chapter; and the James C. Walters Quality Chapter Award to the Gamma Sigma, Gamma Chi, and Epsilon Omega Chapters. Individual merit was recognized through the W. A. Tarr awards given to twenty-two members by their respective chapters. Two awards, the Austin A. Sartin and Charles J. Mankin Outstanding Poster Awards, were given to four students for merit in scientific …

Drone-Based Airborne Vlf-Em In Detecting Groundwater Contamination Due To Landfill Leachate, Chanho Park, Mine Dogan

Waldo Library Student Exhibits

Modern landfills follow a strict state and federal regulation on their location, design, operation and monitoring practices. One of the key focus in the regulations is in terms of leachate. While the exact composition of the leachates depends on various factors such as waste composition and degradation processes, in general they contain groups of dissolved organic matter, inorganic cations and heavy metals.

Very Low Frequency-Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) has been widely used for delineating leachate plume direction and boundaries. Previous studies using VLF-EM were carried out as on-ground measurements due to limitations in technologies. With the advancements in Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS), …

Assessing Soil Properties For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib Hamid, Derek M. Heeren, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Saleh Taghvaeian, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Conference Presentations and White Papers

Sustainable irrigation methods maximize agricultural productivity in Northern African countries like Sudan. This project evaluates soil properties to develop optimized irrigation strategies for Sudan's arid and semi-arid climate. Assessing soil characteristics such as texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content informs the selection of modern irrigation systems. Data from 3,192 locations, collected using GPS and ring infiltrometers for infiltration rates, alongside laboratory analyses for soil properties, were employed. A ranking system determined suitable irrigation systems for specific soil classes, considering factors like slope, wind, crop tolerance, available water capacity (AWC), drainage, germination, capital cost, labor cost, maintenance, and evapotranspiration (ET). The …

Socio-Economic And Climate Change In Mongolia - Effects On Grassland Ecosystems, C Opp

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In Mongolia, in combination with strong changes of the whole society during the past 76 years, from the feudal system to socialism and from the socialist system of planned development to the market economy, there are a lot of changes in the use of natural resources all over the country. In consequence of this a lot of effects on grassland ecosystems, caused by socio-economic and climate driving factors, were observed and studied in different scales: zonal, regional, local.

Policy Options For Decreasing N And P2o5 Losses From Grassland Based Dairy Farms, P.B M. Berentsen, G.W J. Giesen

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Policy instruments for reducing nutrient losses include extension and education, research, financial incentives such as subsidies and levies, and regulations. The potential of these instruments for reducing nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5), and ammonia (NH3) losses is examined for Dutch specialized dairy farms on sandy soils. A linear programming model is used to estimate policy impacts. Results indicate that efficiency improvements through extension, education, and research alone have the potential to decrease total N losses to government target levels in 2005 and to erase 92% of the gap between base and target P2O5 losses, but only 24% of the corresponding NH3 …

Relationship Between Broadleaf Dock (Rumex Obtusifolius L.) And Seasonal Yield Of Orchardgrass Grazed Pasture, Y Iijima, Y Kurokawa, T Monya, Y Suzuki

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In order to grasp the ecology of R. obtusifolius and the effects of it on seasonal yield of grass in grazing pasture, we investigated seasonal sward characteristics and dry matter yield in grazing pasture. Dry matter yield and coverage of R. obtusifolius predominated those of grass after mid-June and mid-August, respectively. Throughout the year the coverage of R. obtusifolius negatively correlated to the grass yield. After August, the grass yield was negatively related to the yield and the population density of R. obtusifolius. From the facts described above, R. obtusifolius seems to reduce grass yield throughout the year, especially …

Productivity And Genotypic Diversity Of Trifolium Ambiguum In The Central Caucasian Mountains, Georgia, R G. Patterson, P R. Espie

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Trifolium ambiguum occurred in12 diverse grassland communities, ranging from 1700 m to 2850 m, in the Kasbegi region, Central Caucasus. Total herbage mass in mid summer ranged from 310 to 763 g/m2with T. ambiguum composition ranging from 0.5 to 51%. Maximum T. ambiguum production occurred in fertile, regularly mown hay meadows, but was reduced in severely grazed pastures. It has persisted in these communities after centuries of grazing or cutting, without fertiliser input. T. ambiguum ploidy levels were predominantly diploid (82% frequency of occurrence), often in conjunction with triploid (18%) or tetraploid (27%) genotypes. The triploid T. ambiguum genotype ( …

Evaluation Of Lolium Perenne And Lolium Multiflorum Cultivars In Chilean Andisols, F R. Demanet, M G. Mora

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

During the seasons 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, the productive pattern of seven cultivars of Lolium perenne: Nui, Ellett, Santa Elvira, Solo, Embassy, Super Nui, Marathon and five Lolium multiflorum: Tetrone, Montblanc, Concord, Aberoscar, Abercomo, was evaluated in a dryland area of Southern Chile. The average season at yield reached by the evaluated cultivars was statistically similar (P< 0.05). However, Ellett, Solo and Marathon, showed a higher persistence and Tetrone and Montblanc presented a plant structure which might allow a greater complementation with Trifolium pratense.

Effect Of White Clover Defoliation On Seed Production And Maturity, Slepetys, R Dapkus

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Experiments were carried out in Lithuania over the period 1990- 1995. They involved white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars Atoliai (large - leaved) and Bitunai (intermediate - leaved). Different defoliation treatments were carried out at a height of 5, 10 and 15 cm every week over the period from 7 May to 18 June. On 21-28 May, two more treatments consisting of an application with 0.5 and 1.0 l ha-1 reglone were added. When defoliation was carried out on 11-18 June, the seed of cv. Bitunai and cv. Atoliai matured 7 d and 13 d later, respectively than the …

Utilization Of Regrowth For Forage In Seed Stands Of Meadow Fescue (Festuca Pratensis Huds.), Lars T. Havstad

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Intensive utilization of autumn regrowth for forage production was compared to other autumn treatments in nine seed production fields of meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) during 1993-96. Uncut plots without a N application in autumn always had the lowest number of reproductive tillers and the lowest subsequent year seed yields. Intensive utilization of regrowth, by application of 80 kg N ha-1 immediately after seed harvest and forage harvests in September or October, did not have any negative impact on the following yearsí seed yields. Delaying forage harvest from 10 September to 10 October increased forage yields, but lowered the …

Undersowing Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca Rubra Var Rubra) For Seed Production In Winter And Spring Wheat Cover Crops, T S. Aamlid

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Sowing red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) seed crops in autumn without cover crop or in winter wheat sown at two sowing rates (100 vs. 200 kg ha-1) and two row spacings (13 vs. 26 cm) was compared to spring establishment without cover crop or in spring wheat at the same sowing rates and row spacings. Yields of winter and spring wheat averaged 5190 and 4106 kg ha-1, respectively. First years’ seed yields of red fescue were, on average, 7% higher after spring- than after autumn sowing; with cover crop this can be explained by the taller plants of winter …

Ecological Site Database- Basic Site Information For Resource Analysis And Decision Making, S L. Ekblad, J R. Carlson, W R. Oaks

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) describes and interprets range, native pasture, grazable forest, pasture, and hayland with ecological site descriptions and forage suitability groups. Ecological sites have evolved from agency range and woodland site descriptions, and have integrated alternate and more recent concepts with the traditional succession-retrogression model for site classification and interpretation. Ecological site interpretations are based on vegetation sampling by weight and composition, and other field data collection. Sample data is recorded and managed in the Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) and is analyzed to identify and develop site and suitability group descriptions. ESIS provides data …

Australian And Us Experiences With Transfer Of Rangeland Improvement Technologies: A Comparative Analysis, A P. Thurow, N Macleod, J R. Conner

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

American and Australian range economists work in tandem with range ecologists and management specialists to develop and analyze strategies for technology transfer. Historically, this process has developed around a model aimed at communication with a narrow target group (ranchers) with easily-defined and homogeneous goals (continuously improving income). In accord with this traditional model of technology transfer, the focus of range economists’ inquiries was once to assess the cost-effectiveness of grazing improvement technologies (Conner, 1985). It is a relatively recent phenomenon that both American and Australian range technology transfer agents are encountering an increasingly broad social and ecological agenda. Ranchers recognize …

Farmer Participation In The Development And Implementation Of A New Technology: Introduction Of Lucerne (Medicago Sativa L.), A Perennial Legume, Into South-West Western Australia, L J. Blacklow, P Cocks

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Australia since its demise due to insect attack in the 1970s. With new insect resistant varieties lucerne is once again becoming a viable pasture option for farmers. There is however, a slow rate of adoption of lucerne for a number of social and economic factors. The main limitations to the adoption of lucerne by farmers are past negative experience, farm systems dominated by annual pastures, changing wool and wheat commodity prices and perceived establishment and management difficulties. To overcome these socio-economic limitations a Model of Lucerne Adoption was developed in which the target group for the technology, the farmer, took …

The Punctuated Arena Model- A New Approach To Tackling Technology Transfer Failure, N D. Macleod, A D. Shulman

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Valuation of the worth of research and development activities is increasingly shifting from outputs to outcomes. The technology transfer record of agricultural R&D focused on pastures and resource management remains generally poor. Participatory R&D approaches have been developed and promoted to overcome this, but these also have performance problems. Based on the authors’ experience with R&D and communication management a Punctuated Arena Model has been developed which is argued to offer scope for improving technology transfer outcomes.

Changes In The Distribution Of Carbohydrates Due To Water Stress And Root-Shoot Ratio As An Index Of Drought Resistance In Ecotypes Of Adesmia Bicolor (Poir.) D.C., B G. Neves-Piestun, Armando Olano, Dan Piestun

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The genera Adesmia, is found in the “El Plata” area. Adesmia bicolor (Poir). D.C. is one of the most common species in Uruguay that belongs to this genera. In this study, three ecotypes were collected from different kinds of environments. Ecotypes 016, 2316 and 7017, came from superficial-soil, clay-soil and sandy soil, respectively. The ecotypes of Adesmia bicolor (Poir.) DC. were studied under water-stress conditions (two levels), during two stages: vegetative phase and beginning of blossom. In both stages, leaf-water potential (LWP), leaf-relative-water content (LRWC), leaf-dry matter (LDM), stem-dry matter (SDM) and root-dry matter (RDM) were measured, while root-shoot ratio …

Can The Restoration Of Degraded Rangelands Ever Be Economic?, N D. Macleod, J C. Noble, J R. Brown

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Degradation of rangeland pastures in Australia is widespread and ongoing. The characteristics of many restoration technologies in relation to land values contribute to a perception of their being uneconomic. However, while this might be true within the general context of broadscale application, it need not be the case in specific instances. Both the underlying contexts and processes need to be considered in assessing the economic value of a given restoration technique for a given degradation problem.

The Effect Of Different Winter Utilization Periods Of A C4 Subtropic Foggage On The Growth Of Weaners, I F. Reckling, G.H J. Kruger

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A significant (P<0.05) increase in lick consumption was found, as winter progressed, which was attributed to a significant decline in the quality (P<0.05) of Digitaria eriantha foggage. Harvested treatments resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decline in residual soil nitrogen levels compared to unharvested treatments. Losses, due to trampling, on average was 21.25%. It is advocated that Digitaria eriantha ought to be utilised in summer and is only suitable for maintenance if utilised in winter.

Carbon Sequestration- Additional Environmental Benefits Of Forage In The Pfra Permanent Cover Program, G M. Luciuk

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

International concern about greenhouse gases and their impacts on climate change has added to the need for an understanding of carbon sequestered in agricultural soils. This paper evaluates the carbon sequestration potentials of the 522 000 hectares converted from annual cultivation to forages under the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration’s (PFRA) Permanent Cover Program (PCP). The 15 000 PCP sites in the prairie provinces of Canada are matched to their dominant soil characteristics. Estimates of carbon losses due to annual crop cultivation are determined for these soil characteristics, and sequestration potentials under the permanent cover condition are presented. Estimates of societal …

Biomass Partitioning In Grasses Subjected To Defoliation, M Gutman, I Noy-Meir, D Pluda, S Rothman

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Containerized plants of Perennial wild barley (Hordeum bulbosum) grown from corms and of Wild emmer wheat (Tritium diccocoides) grown from seeds, were grown in environmental conditions comparable to those encountered under field conditions. Both species were subjected to 3 defoliation frequencies ( once, twice and three times during the season) each at 3 different clipping heights (1, 2.5 and 5 cm above ground level ) plus a control treatment (10 treatments in all). Wild emmer wheat control plants had significantly higher cumulative total and reproductive biomass over all harvests than all clipped plants. Clipping height and …

Performance Of Timothy (Phleum Pratense L.) And Meadow Fescue (Festuca Pratensis Huds.) In Mixtures With Lucerne Or Red Clover, M A. Halling

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Results on the botanical composition of timothy and meadow fescue from 14 field trials in south and central Sweden are presented. Each trial had three years of ley. Treatments were two or three harvests a year, and 0, 100 or 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen per season. Three seed mixtures were used: a mixture of timothy and meadow fescue, and either lucerne or red clover mixed with timothy and meadow fescue. The results show that there is a significant correlation between harvesting system and nitrogen application on the percentage of timothy and meadow fescue. At two harvests, the proportion of timothy …

The Effect Of Phytotoxic Substances In Permanent Grassland, E Haugland, R Elven

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The concentration of phytotoxic substances in permanent grassland was studied and related to botanical composition in a two year study. Species that were negatively correlated to growth retardation varied between the two years. This may have been caused by variation in growth conditions between the two years, but may also indicate that single plant species are not the main source for the phytotoxic substances. Dead decomposing tissue may instead be the main source of phytotoxic substances in permanent grassland.