Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Sustainable Fertilizer Management Practices For Container Nursery Production, Saroj Burlakoti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Growing nursery plants in containers requires a timely supply of mineral nutrients for optimum growth. However, there is a misconception among growers that the application of higher doses of fertilizers hastens plant growth; instead, it can lead to runoff and leaching loss of nutrients. Reducing fertilizer application while sustaining healthy plants can not only negate environmental consequences but also save fertilizer costs. For example, two ground covers, Lysimachia nummularia (creeping jenny, moneywort) and Vinca minor 'Bowles' (periwinkle), can be grown for three months by applying 6 mg/L of phosphorus (P) as reduction of P to single application of 6 mg/L …

Nutrient Management Of Cannabis In Controlled Environments, Julie A. Hershkowitz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cannabis has been cultivated for millennia as a multipurpose crop for food, fiber, and medicine. Secondary metabolites called cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and the psychoactive Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9 THC), are responsible for the medicinal properties of cannabis. The intoxicating nature of THC resulted in legislation prohibiting the possession and production of cannabis within the United States during the 20^th century. As a result, research programs on cannabis production were halted at most institutions. In recent years, cannabis production has become widespread within the US as a result of increasing legalization. However, modern cannabis production nutrient management programs often include …

Exploring Cation Exchange: Unveiling Its Significance In Biochar And Bioenergetics Applications, Gyanendra Kharel

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Cation exchange, a cornerstone of soil chemistry and nutrient cycling, is a fundamental chemical process that occurs in soils, sediments, membranes, and other solid materials. It involves the interchange of positively charged ions, or cations, between a solid matrix and a surrounding solution. This process is crucial in various natural and engineered systems, leading to a range of applications across different fields.

This dissertation presents an extensive investigation into the applications of cation exchange in the fields of biochar and bioenergetics, encompassing three distinct aims. The first aim concentrates on the surface oxygenation of biochar through ozonization, aiming to achieve …

Analyzing The Impact Of Road Salt In Stormwater On Phosphorus Removal By Duckweed (Lemna Minor), Jenna Fracasso

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

Water and nutrients are vital resources to all life forms on Earth. Excess nutrients, however, can have detrimental impacts on aquatic ecosystems. In many watersheds, high phosphorus (P) levels can lead to eutrophication and harmful algal blooms. Stormwater runoff is a major contributor for introducing P into natural water bodies from sources such as agricultural fertilizers and yard waste. Another contaminant that makes its way into stormwater runoff is road salts. In cold climates, various salts are distributed onto roads and sidewalks in large quantities to lower the melting temperature of snow and ice. This study analyzed the intersection of …

Environmental Implications Of Modern Food Production: An Analysis For The Conscious Consumer, Jessica T. Coming

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explores the pathways by which agriculture affects the environment and determines which foods have the greatest climate, water, and land impacts. Agricultural effects on the environment are extensive, from loss of habitat and declines in regional biodiversity to disruption of global nutrient cycles and climate change. Global food production accounts for 26-34% of annual anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, makes up 38-46% of habitable land, and is responsible for 70% of freshwater extraction. The effect of agriculture on the environment is most significantly dictated by what type of food is being produced. Animal-based food products consistently have the highest …

Rabrs For Use In Biologically Enhanced Precipitation Of Struvite In Anaerobic Digester Effluent (Municipal Wastewater), Parker R. Goldsberry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactor (RABR) technology has been researched in studies over the past decade directed at nutrient management for water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). This study investigated the growth of slow-release fertilizer crystals, referred to as struvite, in the algae biofilms of Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactors (RABRs) at the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, the largest water resource recovery facility in the State of Utah. RABRs used anaerobic digester (AD) filtrate as their nutrient source. AD effluent is high in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. The levels of both phosphorus and nitrogen (in the form of ammonia) are regulated …

Phosphorus Dynamics In Calcareous Soils Amended With Organic Matter, Logan Banner

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Phosphorus (P) is considered immobile in calcareous soils. Organic matter is known to enhance P mobility in these soils. Few studies have considered what role iron oxides might play in P sorption in calcareous soils, especially in the presence of soluble organic matter. This study investigated P sorption dynamics in sand-based, simulated soil systems in the absence or presence of 5 mM carbon (C) as humic acid (HA). Treatments included combinations of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), calcite, and ferrihydrite. Solutions containing 10 mg P L^-1 in a background of 0.01 M CaCl₂were equilibrated with each solid treatment …

Fire And Flow: Assessing The Long-Term Effects Of Wildfires And Impact Of High Flow Events On Phosphorus Concentrations In Mountain Streams, Rachel Watts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Climate change has led to significant shifts in the Earth’s weather patterns, often leading to longer, more intense droughts, irregular but extreme storms, and more severe wildfires with longer burn durations. These weather pattern changes have frequently led to shifts in ecosystem dynamics, impacting aspects such as nutrient flux, species diversity, and overall habitat health. Regarding nutrient flux specifically, changes in phosphorus (P) concentrations can negatively impact stream systems as elevated levels can lead to toxic algal blooms, which can cause habitat degradation, loss of usable recreational areas, and large fish kills. A common trigger of these P spikes is …

Effect Of Land Use Type And Stormwater Control Measures On Non-Point Source Phosphorus Concentrations And Loads In A Cold Climate Urban Subwatershed, Dillon H. Vyn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Non-point source phosphorus (P) exports from urban areas including contributions from different urban land use types and seasonal variations are not well understood, especially for cold climates. Additionally, the effectiveness of different stormwater control measures (SCMs) in reducing P concentrations and loads are poorly quantified with assessments rarely considering total watershed P loads. To address these gaps, detailed field monitoring of total P (TP), soluble reactive P (SRP), total suspended solids (TSS), and water quantity was conducted over a 19-month period in a mixed urban watershed in London, ON. Monitoring sites were located at watershed outlets, at the outlets of …

Investigating The Role Of Plant Traits And Interactions In Emergent Wetland Nutrient Removal, Andrew Ryan Sample

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing wetland restoration in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley has been identified as a method to reduce nutrient loading in the Gulf of Mexico. Wetlands have historically been used to treat water through processes facilitated by wetland plants, and relatively few species and plant traits have been identified as important in carrying out these processes. This study focuses on some of those species and traits and aims to identify species differences and plant traits that may be important for wetland nutrient mitigation. Chapter I provides background information on nutrient pollution, wetland biogeochemical mechanisms for nutrient sequestration, and the focal species …

Nutrient Dynamics Of Freshwater Estuarine Sediments Disturbed By Dredging, Ryan Allan John Roekle

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the nutrient environment of sediments in the Milwaukee River estuary and the dynamics of those nutrients during simulated disturbance experiments within the context of large-scale dredging remediation. Surface sediments were collected from throughout the Milwaukee estuary (including river, harbor, and nearshore stations) by PONAR, centrifuged to separate porewater (interstitial water) from solid material, and filtered to further isolate and stabilize dissolved material. Porewaters were analyzed for dissolved nutrients including ammoniacal nitrogen (AN), nitrate, nitrite, and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). Surface sediment porewaters within the estuary were often highly enriched in AN and SRP, which were often 10-2000x …

Fabrication Of Black Phosphorus Terahertz Photoconductive Antennas, Nathan Tanner Sawyers

Physics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Terahertz (THz) photoconductive antennas (PCAs) using 40nm thin-film flakes of black phosphorus (BP) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have been shown computationally to be capable of THz emission comparable to those based on GaAs [2]. In this paper, I briefly describe the scientific and practical interest in THz emissions and explain what warrants research into black phosphorus as a photoconductive semiconductor in THz devices. Furthermore, I outline the basic principle of how these antennas work and mention alternative designs produced by other researchers in the past. Finally, I summarize the fabrication process of these antennas, as well as the measurements …

Understanding And Quantifying Phosphorus Transport From Septic Systems To Lake Auburn, Evan Ma

Standard Theses

Rural areas often use septic systems to treat household wastewater, which may pose a phosphorus (P) loading risk to nearby water bodies if systems fail or if the soil types are unsuitable for P retention. In the Lake Auburn watershed, septic systems may be a source of phosphorus loading to Lake Auburn, an unfiltered drinking water supply. Site evaluations from municipal permits reveal patterns of septic system locations and soil types in septic drain fields. Many septic drain fields have shallow depths to groundwater or a restrictive layer, which may lead to inadequate P retention in the soil. Areas with …

Getting The Dirt On Phosphorus Pollution In Mountain Lakes: Are Rising Soil Temperatures Contributing To Eutrophication In Mountain Watersheds?, Gordon O. Gianniny

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mountain watersheds provide a critical supply of clean water to millions of people around the world. In recent years, evidence of a concerning trend has emerged in these watersheds: rising phosphorus (P) concentrations. P often acts as the limiting nutrient in mountain lake ecosystems, so increasing P availability in mountain lakes and streams has the potential to drastically increase algal growth in these systems. In extreme cases, increasing mountain lake P concentrations may even cause harmful algal blooms that degrade downstream water quality. While the implications of rising P concentrations in mountain lakes are serious, the cause driving this widespread …

Assessing The Drivers Of Legacy Phosphorus Loading And Distribution In Shallow Eutrophic Lake Sediments And The Impacts Of Intervention, Ashton P. Kirol

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The eutrophication of freshwater lakes from excessive nutrient runoff leads to decreased water quality and worsening cyanobacteria blooms. Water quality improvements in shallow eutrophic lakes can be delayed by decades due to the seasonal recycling of legacy phosphorus (P) enriched lake sediments, even when external nutrient loads are addressed. It is critical to understand the drivers of internal P loading to suppress this source of P through intervention to meet water quality goals. This study contrasts two shallow eutrophic systems, Lake Carmi and Missisquoi Bay in Lake Champlain, impacted by legacy P loading driven by the occurrence of low dissolved …

Comparing Phosphorus Removal Efficiencies And Mechanisms Via Two Cost-Effective Specialty Adsorbents In A Cascade Upflow Filtration System, Sydney Kilgus-Vesely

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Finding solutions to treat water that contains phosphorus is an important effort due to the harmful impacts it presents to both human health and the environment. Phosphorus is considered a limiting factor in water oftentimes and therefore controls the growth of algal bloom in a water body. The increase of algal populations due to wastewater effluent, stormwater runoff, and agricultural discharge in Florida waters has a direct link to the event of harmful algal blooms such as red tide in coastal regions, eutrophication of waterbodies, and fish kills. Finding low cost, energy efficient, and low maintenance green sorption media (GSM) …

An Evaluation On The Effects Of Additions And Deletions Of Specific Nutrient Management Strategies On Corn Yield At Different Plant Densities, James D. Dew

Theses and Dissertations

Improved management strategies are needed to increase yield production and quality. The study aimed to determine suitable cultural practices for improved corn production. Experiments were set up at Verona and Stoneville, Mississippi, from 2020 to 2022. Treatments included row configurations (single and twin-row), plant populations (79,000 and 99,000 seeds ha-1), and six combinations of nutrients with or without fungicide. The nutrients evaluated were two nitrogen rates 235 and 314 kg N ha-1, phosphorus 45 kg P ha-1, potassium 112 kg K ha-1, sulfur 22 kg S ha-1, and zinc 11 kg Zn ha-1, and fungicide at 272 ml ha-1. In …

Dust Deposition Changes Production, Chlorophyll-A And Community Composition In Mountain Lakes, Jiahao Wen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Increasing quantities of dust emitted from semi-arid soils, agricultural soils, and urban regions are blown to remote mountain lakes in the American West. Remote mountain lakes lacking local nutrient inputs and presenting simple food webs that are easily affected by climate changes. Dust can carry nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) to mountain lakes and potentially enhance algae growth and change algal communities. However, experimental tests of this hypothesis are lacking. Using in situ experiments, we investigated the effects of dust enrichment on the production, biomass, and primary algal species in three mountain lakes in the American West. We found that …

Nutrient Removal From Recirculating Aquaculture System Water, Eliza M. Costigan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), where only approximately 10% of the total system water is exchanged per day, have grown in popularity in recent years due to their potential to provide a high-quality protein source in a contained environment. With increased production comes the need for RAS water treatment to mitigate recirculation and discharge of nutrients produced by fish; mainly phosphorus and nitrogen. When discharged, nutrients can contribute to eutrophication in surrounding water bodies, harming the fish and other aquatic life. Therefore, RAS effluent should be treated before discharge. One method of phosphorus removal is adsorption, a surface phenomenon that is …

Utilization Of A Boosted Regression Tree Framework For Prediction Of Dissolved Phosphorus Concentrations Throughout The High Plains Aquifer Region, Jeffrey M. Temple

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater-derived phosphorus has often been dismissed as a significant contributor towards surface water eutrophication, however, this dismissal is unwarranted, making the quantification of phosphorus concentrations in groundwater systems immensely important. Machine learning models have been employed to quantify the concentrations of various contaminants in groundwater, but to our best knowledge have never been used for the quantification of groundwater phosphorus. The goal of this research was to use a boosted regression tree framework to produce the first believed machine learning model of phosphorus variability in groundwater, with the High Plains aquifer serving as the study area. Results display a boosted …

Effects Of Excessive Soil Phosphorus Accumulation On Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.) Seedlings, Hannah C. Bays

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many landowners in East Texas apply poultry litter to pastures as a source of nitrogen (N) for forage crops. After many years of repeated poultry litter application, soils can accumulate extremely high extractable phosphorus (P) concentrations, sometimes over 1000 mg kg^-1 of plant available P. Landowners report the conversion of these pastures to loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations is often problematic, with poor seedling survival and abnormal tree growth. This study was conducted to assess the effects of excessive soil phosphorus on loblolly pine seedlings. An outdoor pot study was conducted using bare root seedlings and triple …

Improved Management Of Recalcitrant Nutrient Species: Transformation And Adsorption, Synthia Parveen Mallick

Dissertations (1934 -)

Soluble non-reactive nutrient species, i.e., dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and soluble non-reactive phosphorus (sNRP), are not effectively removed and recovered. Unfortunately, the non-reactive species can cause eutrophication in receiving waterbodies. Thus, removal and recovery of soluble non-reactive nutrients is critical for reducing nutrient discharge and advancing the national goal of enhanced nutrient recovery. Transformation of non-reactive nutrients to more readily removable/recoverable species using ozonation and UV/H2O2 for enhanced nutrient recovery has been reported in literature. Electrooxidation (EO) may outperform these processes in transforming nutrients as EO can utilize multiple oxidation pathways, e.g., in-situ generated oxidants or direct electron transfer (DET). …

Sedimentary Characteristics And Associated Carbon And Nutrients Of Overbank Sediments Deposited During The 2018, 2019, And 2020 Floods In Embanked Floodplains Along The Lower Mississippi River Near Natchez, Mississippi, Rachel Kelk

Master's Theses

The Lower Mississippi River (LMR) experienced major floods in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Sediment deposition in the embanked floodplains during floods represent important storage and sequestration opportunities for carbon and nutrients from ~40% of the continental USA. This research aims to compare depositional thicknesses, organic matter (OM), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) concentrations, and grain sizes in floodplain sediments deposited by the combined 2018-19 floods to the 2020 flood along the LMR near Natchez, Mississippi. Greater depositional thicknesses in 2018-19 are best explained by their combined flood durations; the 2019 flood was the longest in recorded history. Slightly higher …

Climate Change And The Global Nutrient Overload: The Microbial Response Of Extreme Waterbodies To Environmental Change, Samuel P. Bratsman

Theses and Dissertations

One of the defining characteristics of our current epoch—the Anthropocene—is modification of nutrient cycles. At regional to global scales, humans have fundamentally reshaped the availability of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These changes are particularly apparent in freshwater ecosystems, which receive surface and groundwater inputs of nutrients from agriculture, fossil fuel use, and wastewater. In this thesis, I investigated how the addition of nutrients affects microbial community and biogeochemistry in two extreme environments: the hypereutrophic shallow Utah Lake and nutrient-limited Arctic permafrost streams. In my first chapter, I used bioassay and dilution bioassay experiments to identify what factors control harmful algal …

Exploring Valuable And Potentially Harmful By-Products Formed And/Or Released From Smouldering Treatment Of Sewage Sludge, Taryn Ashley Fournie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and emerging contaminants (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)) makes sewage sludge management challenging. Due to their hazards, there is significant interest in thermal treatment technologies that can destroy these compounds, like incineration. However, incineration still poses several risks due to forming and/or releasing hazardous emissions (e.g., polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and PTEs). More recently, the use of smouldering has been introduced as a potential treatment technique for managing sewage sludge. Smouldering presents several advantages over traditional incineration due to its lower energy and pre-treatment requirements and potential for beneficial …

Analysis Of Indianapolis Waterways For Evidence Of Eutrophication And Contamination Induced By Urban Pollution, Kiley Grace Wardwell

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The focus of my research will be largely focused on the water quality of the White River throughout Indianapolis. I will be testing water samples from five different points along the White River to analyze three of its contents, assessing the differing levels of pollution along different points progressing down the river and through the city. The locations I have chosen to test coincide with water gauge sites along the White River and are as follows: Logan Street in Noblesville, 82nd Street, Broad Ripple Dam, Michigan Road and Raymond Street. The surface water at these five locations will be tested …

Nutrient Uptake And Water Quality In Great Salt Lake Wetland Impoundments, Rachel L. Buck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the largest inland body of water on the Pacific flyway, a major pathway for migratory birds in the Americas that extends from Alaska to Patagonia. The lake is surrounded by approximately 360,000 acres of wetlands, providing critical food, shelter, cover, nesting areas, and protection to between 4–6 million birds that visit each year. Impounded wetlands were created as part of the GSL ecosystem to support waterfowl habitat. These large, shallow, submergent wetlands are diked to control water levels to sustain aquatic plants which are an important food source. Besides providing critical habitat, these impoundments …

Assessing The Role Of Magnetite In Municipal Wastewater Treatment, Patricia Ayaa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Some municipal wastewater treatment (MWWT) facilities have adopted magnetite in their treatment processes through a technology called BioMag® to meet effluent regulatory requirements for total nitrogen and total phosphorus. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms and efficiency of magnetite in the removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from wastewater. This research, therefore, estimated its effectiveness in the removal of these nutrients, with a case study of the Marlay-Taylor Water Reclamation Facility in Maryland. The intervention analysis model was used, but a new forecasting approach to the model was proposed to fit the data in this study and …

Comparing Multiple Approaches To Reconstructing The Phosphorus History Of Marl Lakes: A Utah Lake Case Study, Mark R. Devey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Freshwater lakes around the world have suffered from the increasing occurrence of harmful algal blooms in recent decades. One of the most pressing reasons water quality managers try to address harmful algal blooms is that some of the species that occur with them produce toxins which can affect humans, pets, and wildlife. In many lakes, the nutrient phosphorus controls whether these harmful algal and bacterial species can occur. Therefore, efforts to control harmful algal blooms often center around reducing inputs of phosphorus from a variety of sources within the watershed. Scientists and water quality managers have long been challenged by …