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Comparison Of Private And Public Lab Fertilizer Recommendation Impacts On Field Crop Production And Soil Test Results, Megan Baker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

There are many sources that farmers utilize to determine fertilizer needs for crops such as private and public labs, crop advisors, and fertilizer dealers. In many cases, these sources provide recommendations for a specific crop that can vary greatly, which can lead to large differences in cost. An experiment was established in 2021 with 12 sites across the state of Utah in alfalfa, small grains, and corn to test and compare fertilizer recommendations from five labs. The recommendations tested were from two public labs (Utah State University and the University of Idaho) and three commercial labs located in the Western …

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 …

Non-Methane Hydrocarbon Source Apportionment And Btex Risk Assessment Of Winter 2015 In Roosevelt, Utah, Jerimiah Lamb

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Non-Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC) monitored in Roosevelt Utah including Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (collectively known as BTEX) are associated with deleterious effects including cancer. This study was designed to assess the origin and effect of the toxicants and addressed two points: 1) Source identification using the USEPA’s Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) and NOAA’s Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model and 2) A human health risk assessment based on ambient concentrations of BTEX collected at the Roosevelt site. Model fit indicated that the primary contributor to total NMHCs was local oil and gas operations and was supported by previous …

Validation Of Tissue Nutrient Status For Tart Cherry (Prunus Cerasus) And Peach (Prunus Persica) In Utah, Emily Tsai

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fruit tree nutrition requirements change during the growing season as buds form, shoots grow, fruit sets, and internal reserves are filled. Nutrient concentrations in plant tissues are directly correlated with the nutritional status and productivity of fruit trees. Plant tissue testing is used to effectively and accurately determine the nutritional status of perennial plants. Tissue test analyses were performed on tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) and peach (Prunus persica) leaves to validate tissue sufficiency levels used in Utah and to determine optimal timing of tissue sampling for prediction of harvest nutrient status, focusing on phosphorus (P), potassium …

Ungulate Damage To Safflower In San Juan County, Utah, Michael J. Haney

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In Utah, farmers are concerned that ungulates are damaging safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) fields. I examined elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) damage to safflower production in San Juan County, Utah during 2009 and 2010. Data on damaged safflower plants were collected within 28 fields, totaling 1,581 ha (13 fields totaling 963 ha during 2009; 15 fields totaling 618 ha during 2010). I compared 3 methods to assess losses: ungulate-proof exclosures, adjacent plant compensation method, and counting the number of damaged plants in 50-m transects (safflower count method). Exclosures were of limited use …

The Transfer Of Agricultural Water To Municipal And Industrial Usages, Dallin Paul Stephens

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The water that is available for beneficial use in Utah is quickly approaching full appropriation; water that has been claimed is nearing the amount that is available for use. The Division of Water Resources of the State of Utah has organized a three-part plan to "Plan, Conserve, Develop and Protect Utah's Water Resources." One of these three elements has a focus to "provide comprehensive water planning." Such planning is best achieved when current and accurate data on the uses of the state's water are available.

The primary purpose of this thesis was to provide an evaluation, from data collected on …

Extending The Season For Sustainability In Utah, Britney Hunter

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The importance of providing fresh produce on a local level is becoming a widespread consideration among people concerned with the character of their food. For regions without an opportune growing climate, extending the growing season can drastically advance productivity. High tunnels are one way to effectively and profitably extend the growing season in cold climates. The benefits of growing in a high tunnel go beyond raising the temperature. High tunnels contribute to higher quality small fruits and vegetables. The benefits of growing in high tunnels have been explored in other states and could be exploited by Utah growers. Utah's climate …

The Energy Expenditure Of Heifers Grazing Crested Wheatgrass Rangeland In West-Central Utah, Kris M. Havstad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The free-roaming ruminant requires energy for the demands of vii grazing, traveling and thermoregulation that are not required by its confined counterpart. Literature estimates of these additional costs range from 10 to 170 percent above maintenance. The uncertain magnitude of this increased demand and the factors that contribute to it impede the ability of the rangeland ruminant nutritionist to establish guidelines for the energy requirements of the free-roaming herbivore. This study was designed to estimate the energy expenditure of yearling Angus heifers while grazing a declining supply of available crested wheatgrass forage (Agropyron cristatum) on rangeland in west-central …

Nutritive Values Of Russian Wildrye, Crested Wheatgrass, And Intermediate Wheatgrass Grazed By Cattle On Utah Foothill Ranges, George W. Mitchell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A comparative index to digestible nutrients was established for Russian wildrye, crested wheatgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass seeded on foothill areas of Utah. The nutritive values of these grasses were compared by the lignin ratio method, the chlorophyllan ratio method, and the in vivo rumen bag process.

Average digestion coefficients computed by the lignin ratio method for dry matter, ether extract, cellulose, and gross energy were highest for intermediate wheatgrass. Protein was more digestible for Russian wildrye. Digestible energy was adequate in all species to meet requirements for late lactation.

Results from the chlorophyllan ratio method were excessively high and were …

A Survey Of The State Of Utah For Areas Infested With The Stem Nematode Of Alfalfa, Dwayne R. Buxton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Plant nematodes belong to a large group of invertebrates known as round worms, They derive their name from the Greek word "nema," meaning thread. In literature some authors refer to nematodes as nemas. In England and many parts of the United States, plant-parasitic nematodes are called eelworms.

While some damage to plants results from mechanical injury, salivary secretions injected by the nematode into the plant are usually the major cause of damage. Experiments conducted in the first part of the present century have demonstrated large differences in plant growth in soil infested with nematodes and soil freed of nematodes by …

Varieties And Quality Of Small Grain Seed Planted In Utah In 1958, Louis A. Jensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

High quality seed is of first importance in efficient crop production. Seed is one of the major factors affecting yield and quality of the crop. High quality seed is of adapted varieties, has high gemination, and is free of foreign material and weed seeds. Crop seed containing weed seeds may be the means of infesting farm land with weeds. Such seed is expensive at any price.

Resistance To And Transmission Of Witches' Broom And Comparative Yields Of Alfalfa Varieties In The Uintah Basin, Utah, David Val Glover

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Alfalfa is the most important forage crop in Utah. It is of particular importance to the Uintah Basin, Utah area where alfalfa hay and seed production are major sources of agricultural income. This crop owes much of its popularity to the fact that it will normally produce large yields of good forage on land which is unsuited to more intensive cultivation. In many cases it is impractical to advocate disease control practices which involve extra labor or expense and as a result most diseases of alfalfa, if controlled at all, are controlled by the use of resistant varieties.

During the …

A Study Of The Clover Seed Chalcid Infestation Of Various Alfalfa Varieties In Utah, Reed Charles Bunker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

One of the limiting factors associated with seed production of alfalfa and certain clovers is a small jet-black wasp commonly known as the clover seed chalcid, Bruchophagus gibbus (Boheman). In alfalfa seed producing areas this insect is often referred to as the alfalfa seed chalcid or the alfalfa seed chalcis-fly. In local areas of Utah, farmers often refer to this insect as simply "the fly."

Chemical Thinning Studies On Peaches In Utah, Ramzi Mustafa Khalidy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Investigations on chemical thinning of peaches by use of blossom and post blossom sprays have been in progress since the last decade mainly in the United States, Canada, and some European countries. Horticulturists are attempting to find new means to minimize the expense of hand thinning. The high cost of the hand thinning operation has caused many growers to underestimate the importance of this practice, and as a result their orchards have fallen into the biennial bearing habit. In addition, the fruit from un-thinned orchards was not acceptable on the market since it was small in size, lacked color, and …

Distribution Of Fluorine In Utah County, Utah, Soils And Uptake Of Fluorine By Plants, E. Don Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fluorine released from industrial operations is eventually deposited on the surface of the earth, intercepted by plants, or absorbed in open bodies of water. the term fluorine as used in this thesis will be considered to refer to fluorine in combined form.

Industrial expansion has caused atmosphere pollution from fluorine in many parts of the United States. Utah County, Utah, is one of the affected area, and is the principal area of concern in this thesis.

In the spring of 1951, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station initiated a broad investigation on soil, water, plant, and animal problems arising from fluorine atmospheric …

The Plankton Of The Bear River Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, Utah Seasonal Distribution Of Organisms, George Piranian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In the summer of 1932, an investigation of some biological, physical, and chemical conditions at the Bear River Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, Utah, was begun at the Utah State Agricultural College to determine some of the factors governing the biological productivity of brackish-water marshes. Unfortunately, lack of funds made it impossible to continue work beyond the first season.

In 1936, the Wild Life Experiment Station at the Utah State Agricultural College appropriated a fund for a cooperative project between the Station and the Department of Botany at the same institution. This project, planned to be continued by various graduate fellows over …

Fertilizer Studies As Conducted On Muck Soil In Sanpete County, Utah, Lemoyne Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The reclamation of muck soil is a new development in the state of Utah. Knowledge concerning the various properties and requirements of the newly-drained area in Sanpete County, Utah, is extremely limited. A need for fundamental information concerning this type of soil was the basis for the establishment of an experimental farm in this region. The fact that most organic soils respond to mineral fertilizers soon after they have been reclaimed was an important reason for starting fertilizer work on this soil as soon as it was possible to do so. This thesis reports some of the fertilizer work being …