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Trends In Us Crop Yields & Water Use, Britta L. Schumacher
Trends In Us Crop Yields & Water Use, Britta L. Schumacher
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Over half the land in the US is dedicated to agriculture, with the vast majority of all cropland cultivated in corn, wheat, or soybean. Despite continuing advances in agricultural technologies, and consistent yield growth over the twentieth century, research suggests that environmental change is already impacting agricultural yield and future changes are sure to exacerbate challenges to agricultural production. It follows that the future of US agriculture depends on the evolution of the changing climate, the relationship between crop yields and the environment, on-farm management and adaptations, the ecosystems that support agriculture, the political and economic incentives that shape what …
Innovative Water Management Using Advanced Irrigation Systems And Biochar, Jonathan A. Holt
Innovative Water Management Using Advanced Irrigation Systems And Biochar, Jonathan A. Holt
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Two approaches to water optimization in agriculture are to increase soil water retention and improve the efficiency of irrigation. A soil amendment that has received attention for its ability to increase soil water retention is biochar, the remaining biomass after high C materials have been pyrolyzed (burned with limited oxygen and heat). Two studies were conducted at a total of 10 site-years in Utah from 2018 to 2020 to evaluate how wood biochar influences the productivity and crop quality of irrigated alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum L.), along with soil water tension. One study …